Villarreal came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Real Madrid on the final weekend of the 2017-18 La Liga campaign.
First-half goals from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo saw Real Madrid lead at the interval, but Villarreal scored twice in the second period through Roger Martinez and Samu Castillejo as the points were shared on the night.
The draw means that Atletico Madrid are confirmed as second-placed finishers in Spain's top flight this season, with Real Madrid in third and Villarreal ending the campaign in fifth.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! Sports Mole's live La Liga coverage continues from the Estadio de la Ceramica as Villarreal welcome Real Madrid. It is the final weekend of the 2017-18 La Liga campaign, and this is perhaps the pick of the fixtures. Villarreal have already secured fifth position in the table ahead of this match, but Real Madrid could still finish second if they collect all three points here. Stay tuned for all of the action!
Villarreal actually recorded a 1-0 victory in the reverse fixture earlier this season, with Pablo Fornals scoring the only goal of the match in the 87th minute. Real Madrid ran out 3-2 winners when they travelled to Villarreal last season, but Los Blancos have actually only been victorious in two of the last six league fixtures between the two teams. It should be a very interesting match.
Right, without further ado, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news for this match. Has Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane selected a shadow XI ahead of the Champions League final? What about Villarreal, are they at full strength? Let's run through the two XIs here...
TEAMS!
VILLAREAL: Andres; Mario, Bonera, Alvaro, Marin; Soriano, Rodrigo, Fornals, Fuego, Sansone; Unal
REAL MADRID: Luca Zidane; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Ronaldo, Bale, Isco
Villarreal boss Javi Calleja has shuffled his pack following the 4-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna last time out, with Nicola Sansone, Javi Fuego and Enes Unal among those to come into the XI. There is no Carlos Bacca for the home side, but Pablo Fornals – who scored the winner in the reverse match at the Bernabeu earlier this season – is included, as is Roberto Soriano.
As for Real Madrid, head coach Zinedine Zidane has handed a first-team debut to his son Luca Zidane between the sticks, but it is otherwise arguably the Frenchman's strongest team, with Gareth Bale keeping his spot following a fine run of form. Cristiano Ronaldo and Isco join Bale in the final third, with Zinedine Zidane resisting the temptation to rest players ahead of next week.
So there we have it. The two teams are in, and we are now just about 40 minutes from kickoff tonight. I shall speak about Villarreal a little bit later, but let's start with the visitors Real Madrid. Los Blancos will enter this match in third position in the table, but they can still snatch second spot from bitter rivals Atletico Madrid on the final weekend of the campaign.
That said, in order to claim second, Real Madrid would need to win tonight, and then hope that Atletico lose at home to Eibar tomorrow afternoon, which is some ask. It does appear that Zidane's side will end the season in third, and they are currently a huge 15 points off champions Barcelona.
In all honesty, this match is not Real Madrid's priority right now. Indeed, Los Blancos are building ahead to next weekend's Champions League final against Liverpool in Kiev. The Spanish giants are bidding to win the competition for a third straight year, but they will be wary of a Liverpool side that has been free-scoring throughout the 2017-18 campaign.
Real Madrid have won 10, drawn five and lost three of their 18 away La Liga matches this season, and they have actually conceded 22 times on their travels. The Madrid giants have simply been unable to match Barcelona domestically this season, but yet another Champions League title would certainly make up for that. The atmosphere is building nicely ahead of kickoff in this match.
As for Villarreal, the Yellow Submarine have already secured fifth position in the table ahead of this match following Real Betis' defeat at Leganes earlier this afternoon. The hosts will finish fifth regardless of what happens in this game, and that represents another very good season for the club.
Since returning to La Liga for the 2013-14 season, Villarreal have finished sixth, sixth, fourth, fifth and fifth. They have been unable to challenge for a top-four position, but have been the best of the rest, and have the chance to end the campaign on a real high with a win tonight.
Villarreal have won 18, drawn six and lost 13 of their 37 La Liga matches this season - scoring 55 times and conceding 48. Eleven of those victories have come on their own patch, although they have also lost five matches on home soil. It will be interesting to see what type of game we get here.
There have already been five La Liga matches today, so let me bring you the full-times on those...
Celta 4-2 Levante, Leganes 3-2 Betis, Las Palmas 1-2 Girona, Malaga 0-1 Getafe, Sevilla 1-0 Alaves
Here we go then; both sets of players have joined us on the pitch ahead of kickoff tonight. Just a reminder that Villarreal have already secured fifth spot in the table, but Real Madrid could still finish second if they collect all three points in this match. Stay tuned for live coverage!
KICKOFF! Real Madrid kick things off tonight...
... perfect conditions tonight for a game of football, and the home supporters have turned up in their numbers. Real Madrid have had the ball in the first couple of minutes, but Villarreal have started in a pretty attacking shape, with Unal, Sansone, Soriano and Fornals all advanced.
Villarreal look to have a problem here as Alvaro appears to go over on his ankle.
CHANCE! Big chance for Villarreal as Unal breaks into an attacking position, but the number 15 can only flash the ball wide of Luca Zidane's post. Good football from the hosts.
Just a few signs that Real Madrid are getting to grips with the possession as they pass and probe in the final third of the field. Ramos hits one from distance, and Fernandez has to make the save.
We are going to have goals tonight if the first eight minutes are anything to go by! Both teams have had their moments in the final third, and neither defence looks overly secure at the moment.
SAVE! Fernandez keeps out a long-range Ronaldo strike!
Just a reminder that Villarreal will end the season in fifth position regardless of what happens in this match. Real Madrid though can still finish second if they collect all three points tonight. That said, the European champions would then need Atletico to lose at home to Eibar tomorrow afternoon.
GOAL! Villarreal 0-1 Real Madrid (Bale)
Real Madrid take the lead in the 11th minute as a quick free kick releases Bale, and the Welshman settles inside the Villarreal box before finishing into the bottom corner. What a super goal.
Not an awful lot to report since the goal went in, which certainly quietened the crowd here.
Smart work from Soriano in a wide position as he turns past Marcelo before looking to deliver, but Ramos makes the clearance. The resulting corner is then headed clear by Varane.
Ronaldo fires wide of the Villarreal goal from distance.
Decent save from Luca Zidane to collect a Fornals effort from outside the box.
Good football from Villarreal in the last couple of minutes as they continue to move the ball in the final third of the field, with Fornals and Unal linking well. The first 21 minutes has flown past here.
Bale has surely played his way into Zidane's team for the Champions League final, and it will be very interesting to see whether Isco or Benzema get the nod in the final third of the field.
Mario and Marin continue to make ground in attacking positions, with Hernandez and Fuego sitting in front of Bonera and Alvaro. Real Madrid are being forced to defend at the moment.
Real Madrid in possession with 27 minutes on the clock.
Little over 15 minutes of the first period remaining, and Bale's goal is the difference. Villarreal have had their moments in the final third, but Real Madrid have been the better side. Casemiro has just had another effort from distance, but it was not close to testing Fernandez here.
CLOSE! Fornals just misses the Real Madrid post with a low strike!
GOAL! Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
Real Madrid double their lead in the 32nd minute as Marcelo's super cross is headed home by Ronaldo. Super goal, and the visitors are now 2-0 ahead at the home of Villarreal.
Little over 10 minutes of the first period remaining, and Real Madrid have been clinical here.
Villarreal are finding it difficult to contain Real Madrid at the moment as the away side continue to move through the gears. Ronaldo, Bale and Isco are absolutely full of it here.
SAVE! Fernandez has to tip a Modric effort over the crossbar.
CLOSE! Isco sees his strike deflected just over the crossbar following another break from the away side, with Kroos delivering a wonderful pass into the path of his teammate.
Ronaldo smashes wide of the post following a poor punch from Fernandez.
SAVE! Fernandez tips a Kroos strike over the crossbar!
Fornals breaks into the Real Madrid box before delivering a cross towards Soriano, but Ramos is on hand to make the clearance. Better from the Yellow Submarine in that exchange.
Unal finds space in a wide position before driving at Ramos, but the Real Madrid captain is across to make the challenge, and the ball rebounds off the Villarreal forward for a goal kick.
HALF-TIME: 0-2 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close with Real Madrid leading Villarreal 2-0 at the interval. Bale sent the visitors ahead with a fine finish, before Ronaldo headed a second in the 32nd minute. Los Blancos have been very, very impressive here.
STATISTICS! Real Madrid dominated the first-half possession with 65%, while they managed 11 attempts - five of which were on target. Villarreal, meanwhile, hit the target with one of their four attempts. No yellow cards to report in the first 45 minutes - it has not been that type of match.
BENCH WATCH! Benzema, Theo Hernandez, Kovacic and Lucas are on the Real Madrid bench tonight, and it would not be a surprise to see the likes of Ronaldo and Kroos given some rest ahead of next weekend. As for Villarreal, Al Dawsari, Castillejo and Ruiz are in reserve here.
RESTART! Villarreal resume the action here...
... no changes from either side at the break, which is not too much of a surprise.
BOOKING! Modric (Real Madrid) is booked for fouling Soriano just outside the Real Madrid box, and Villarreal now have a free kick in a very dangerous area of the field here...
SAVE! Wonderful save from Luka Zidane to keep out a Sansone free kick!
Ronaldo times his run to perfection as he looks to beat Villarreal's goalkeeper to the ball, but Fernandez does well to make the clearance. Fuego then goes down for some treatment.
Good stuff from Villarreal in the last few minutes as they continue to work the ball into the final third of the field. Real Madrid's tempo has dropped a touch since the half-time break here.
Again it is bright work from Luca Zidane as the young goalkeeper comes to claim a through ball. Plenty of positive signs from the manager's son on his first-team debut.
Rodrigo fires over the Real Madrid crossbar from outside the box.
Villarreal are preparing to make their first change of the match, and it will be the Saudi Arabian Al Dawsari. Still no movement on the Real Madrid bench, but I should imagine it will not be too long.
VILLARREAL SUB! El Dawsari replaces Fuego for the home side.
Villarreal have had a lot of the ball in the second period, and now have another free kick in an advanced area with Ramos handling outside the box. Sansone is over the ball once again...
... Unal actually takes this one, but his effort is wide of the post.
Luca Zidane does well once again to claim a cross from Marin, which was heading for Unal.
REAL MADRID SUB! Benzema and Lucas replace Ronaldo and Modric.
Fernandez makes a smart save to keep out Benzema's strike, but the flag was raised.
OFF-THE-LINE! Ramos heads a Unal header off the line!
VILLARREAL SUB! Unal is replaced by Martinez for the home side.
Villarreal continued to look the team more likely to add to the scoring as Fornals breaks forward from midfield, but the number eight just fails to make contact on a low cross from Marin.
GOAL! Villarreal 1-2 Real Madrid (Martinez)
Oh my word! Stunning strike from Roger Martinez as the Villarreal attacker finds space inside the Real Madrid box before picking out the top corner of the net. What a wonderful goal that is!
REAL MADRID SUB! Kovacic replaces Isco for Real Madrid.
Little over 15 minutes of the second period remaining, and there is no question that Villarreal have been the better side since the half-time break. Is there to be one more goal in this game?!
SAVE! Smart save from Fernandez to keep out a strike from Benzema.
Super challenge from Casemiro as the Brazilian midfielder comes across to deny Martinez, who was lining up another strike inside the Real Madrid box. Casemiro is fine following a little concern.
VILLARREAL SUB! Castillejo replaces Fornals for the home side.
Martinez again finds space inside the Real Madrid box before striking towards goal, but Ramos makes the block. Villarreal seem intent on levelling the scores in the latter stages here.
BOOKING! Alvaro (Villarreal) is booked for a block on Kroos.
BOOKING! Samu (Villarreal) is booked for dissent.
Little under 10 minutes of the second period remaining, and Real Madrid still lead 2-1.
BOOKING! Casemiro (Real Madrid) is booked for a push on Mario.
Possession football from Villarreal as we head for the final five minutes here.
GOAL! Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid (Castillejo)
Villarreal level the scores in the 85th minute as Castillejo breaks the offside trap before beating Luca Zidane to the ball and finishing into the back of the net!
BOOKING! Martinez (Villarreal) is booked for a foul on Carvajal.
BOOKING! Kroos (Real Madrid) is booked for a foul on Samu.
We are into the first of four additional minutes of stoppage time here.
SAVE! Super save from Fernandez to keep out Benzema's strike!
CLOSE! Lucas just misses the Villarreal post from close range!
BOOKING! Salem (Villarreal) is booked for a foul on Carvajal.
FULL-TIME: Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid
So there we have it. The referee brings the second period to a close with Villarreal coming from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with Real Madrid. The draw means that Atletico Madrid are confirmed as second-placed finishers in La Liga, with Real Madrid in third and Villarreal ending the campaign in fifth. Thanks for joining our live coverage once again. See you soon!
