Real Madrid delivered a winning response to Zinedine Zidane’s stinging criticism as Mariano Diaz scored twice in a 3-2 victory over Villarreal on Sunday.
An angry Zidane questioned the attitude of his players after last week’s 1-0 loss to Rayo Vallecano and reacted by making more changes, with Luka Modric and Gareth Bale not even included in the squad.
Chance to impress
Instead, youngsters like Jesus Vallejo, Brahim Diaz and Federico Valverde were given chances to impress, along with Mariano, who has barely been used since joining from Lyon last summer.
His two goals, either side of Vallejo scoring his first for the club, were enough, despite Jaume Costa pulling a late goal back for Villarreal to set up an unexpectedly nervy finish.
The result left third-placed Madrid six points behind Atletico Madrid in La Liga with two games left.
Real will need to win both of its remaining matches and Atletico lose both of its to prevent Diego Simeone’s side finishing as the top team in the capital for the second year running.
But more of a concern for Zidane will be the 15-point gap behind Barcelona.
Zidane warned expectant fans on Saturday that much of his current squad will still be at the club next season but this felt like another exercise in experimentation.
Mariano’s display begs the question whether he could have been more useful during a campaign where his team has struggled for goals.
Welcome boost
In that regard, the sight of Vinicius Junior coming off the bench here and making his first appearance in two months after recovering from injury will also have been a welcome boost.
Mariano had scored inside two minutes, prodding in after Santi Cazorla had been robbed in midfield by the energetic Brahim.
The advantage lasted only nine minutes as this time Casemiro was caught napping in his own half, allowing Gerard Moreno the chance to fire past Thibaut Courtois at the near post.
Real settled as Dani Carvajal hit the post from distance before Vallejo put it back in front shortly before half-time. Marcelo weaved in from the left and his blocked shot fell at Vallejo’s feet, the 22-year-old finishing from four yards.
Real made it three early in the second-half, Mariano tapping in Carvajal’s cross before Vinicius came on to a warm reception with 16 minutes left.
Important results:
La Liga: Real Madrid 3 (Mariano 2, 49, Vallejo 40) bt Villarreal 2 (Gerard 11, Jaume 90+4); Valladolid 1 (Rubio 21) bt Athletic Bilbao 0; Huesca 2 (Melero 66, Gallar 90+2-pen) lost to Valencia 6 (Wass 2, Rodrigo 16, 51, Santi Mina 20, 33, Xabier Etxeita 41-og).
Serie A: Empoli 1 (Farias 54) bt Fiorentina 0; Sassuolo 2 (Ferrari 66, Boga 78) drew with Frosinone 2 (Sammarco 8, Paganini 36); Napoli 2 (Mertens 85, Insigne 90+8-pen) bt Cagliari 1 (Pavoletti 63).
Bundesliga: Freiburg 1 (Grifo 9-pen) drew with Fortuna Duesseldorf 1 (Kownacki 31).