Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid: Bale again stakes Kiev claim
Gareth Bale scored for the fourth straight game in Real's draw with Villarreal, boosting his prospects of starting the Champions League final.
Luca Zidane:
Looked good with ball at feet - one of his chief qualities - and showed fine reflexes to keep out a Nicola Sansone free-kick. He could do nothing about Roger Martínez's goal for Villarreal and, overall, gave a good account of himself on his debut - although he was too easily rounded by Samu Castillejo for the hosts' equaliser.
Dani Carvajal:
You could be forgiven for thinking he hadn't just spent a month out of action: on his return from injury, the right-back produced the same level of performance as he had been delivering before it. He was assured in defence and a presence in attack.
Raphael Varane:
Varane was swift in the challenge and looked sharp when bringing the ball out from the back. The central defender's pace proved key when attempting to snuff out Villarreal's counter-attacks.
Sergio Ramos:
After an early error, Ramos went on to put in a good display. The captain is in fine form at the moment.
Marcelo:
His assist for Real's second goal was pure class: a cross hit with the outside of the boot that picked out Cristiano Ronaldo to head home. He was a constant headache for Villarreal in attack. In defence, however, he was badly at fault when playing Castillejo onside for the Submarino Amarillo's leveller.
Casemiro:
Having overcome a dip in form (which included being dropped to the bench against Bayern Munich), the anchorman continued his recent run of very decent performances. We're seeing the Casemiro we know and love once more.
Toni Kroos:
A very focused showing from the German. He controlled the midfield and was Real Madrid's most astute playmaker. He has come into the business end of the campaign in excellent nick.
Luka Modric:
Only played 60 minutes. He proved a decent enough creative influence, but played slightly within himself as he sought to manage his body with one eye on next Saturday's Champions League final.
Isco:
The Spaniard's effect on the game waned as it progressed. Highly active early on, he was involved in Cristiano's goal, but barely made his presence felt after the break.
Gareth Bale:
He continues to stake his claim for a starting spot in Kiev, scoring for the fourth game in a row with a goal that showcased his pace and killer instinct. Playing at centre-forward alongside Cristiano, he produced a highly mobile display.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
Like Modric, Cristiano came off after an hour with the Champions League final in mind. He still found the time to grab his 26th LaLiga goal of the season (in 27 games), and his form didn't appear to have been adversely affected by his stint on the sidelines since the Clásico.
Substitutes:
Karim Benzema and Lucas Vázquez were brought on 15 minutes into the second half, while Mateo Kovacic was introduced with 73 on the clock. None dazzled; indeed, their presence on the field coincided with Real's worst spell of the game.
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