Villarreal 1 : 1 Real Madrid - Nine-man Madrid held to a draw

Posted Wednesday, March 21, 2012 by PA

Real Madrid completely lost their discipline as they let Barcelona back in the title race with a 1-1 draw at lowly Villarreal.

The visitors conceded an equaliser to Marcos Senna, had boss Jose Mourinho sent from the dugout and Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil red-carded all in the space of three minutes late in the game.

Cristiano Ronaldo's excellent 62nd-minute opener had put a below-par Madrid in front, but Senna equalised with a 25-yard free-kick in the 83rd minute.

The real drama came in the aftermath, though, as Mourinho was ordered from the touchline for his reaction to the equalising goal.

Ramos was shown a second yellow in the 85th minute for an aggressive challenge on Nilmar and Ozil was given a straight red moments later, apparently for dissent.

The draw left Madrid just six points clear of Barcelona at the top of the Primera Division. It was a second straight match in which they had dropped points after also conceding a late free-kick in a 1-1 draw at home to Malaga last time out.

Madrid started slowly. Ramos had their first chance but headed over from Ozil's inswinging free-kick.

At the other end Nilmar forced Iker Casillas to save with his feet with a shot from inside the area.

Madrid twice threatened with free-kicks before the break, Ozil curling in the first which goalkeeper Diego Lopez had to tip around the post and Ronaldo fizzing in the second to the near post. Lopez did well to hold on.

The visitors finally broke the deadlock just after the hour mark, and in some style.

Ronaldo played a one-two with Ozil, the latter flicking the return pass back to him with his heel as the Portuguese broke into the area. Ronaldo rounded Lopez before slotting the ball home.

But Hamit Altintop's foul on Joan Oriol gave Villarreal a free-kick 25 yards out and Senna stepped up to fire the set-piece low into the corner.

The equaliser was the catalyst for a complete breakdown in discipline from Madrid as they ended the game with nine men on the pitch and their manager in the stands.