VILLARREAL, Spain (AP) – Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois started Saturday when Real Madrid drew 1-1 with Villarreal in the Spanish league.
At the time of the season’s appearance, striker Mariano Daaz scored a goal 3 minutes after kick-off in a promising start for Madrid at the Estadio de los Angeles Cer-mica in Villos angelesrreal.
But Spanish striker Gerard Moreno tied from the penalty spot 76 minutes after Courtois shot Samuel Chukwueze while trying to succeed with the ball.
Unai Emery’s Villarreal remained undefeated in all the house competitions of this campaign and the tie left Villarreal in 3rd place, leader to a point of Real Sociedad and Atletico Madrid.
Madrid’s slide came at one point after being defeated 4-1 in Valencia when Courtois could barely avoid 3 penalties, while Zinedine Zidane’s team remained fourth.
Madrid lacked Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Federico Valverde for injury, while Casemiro, Eder Milito and Luka Jovic were unavailable after being positive for coronavirus.
“We lacked some very vital players, but that can’t be an excuse. We have a team giant enough to participate in each and every match,” said defenseman Nacho Fernandez, who started out in Ramos’s position.
Despite the absences and the fact that he had to face the little-used Daaz in the lead, Zidane still had an 11 containing Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, Raphael Varane and Eden Hazard, who returned after a circular with a coronavirus infection.
Dani Carvajal also played his first game again since injuring his right knee in September. The right-back mounted a short center for Daaz to come home after holding his marker.
Madrid controlled the rest of the first half, the hosts took a step forward after the resumption and took the action to the Courtois area.
After Dani Parejo and Moreno arrived with shots, Emery sent Chukwueze and Pervis Estupion, reinforcements teamed up to produce the tie when Estupion sent a long ball to the area to face Chukwueze’s career, and Courtois hurried and swept it.
Madrid ended the attack by protecting its tip.
“We worked hard, achieved our purpose and felt that we had simply been given a better result,” Moreno said.
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