Real Madrid could be 15 points off the top in La Liga by the time they face Chelsea in midweek after falling to a 3-2 defeat to Villarreal in the Santiago Bernabeu.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team twice went ahead but with Karim Benzema taken off on the hour to rest ahead of that Champions League quarter-final first leg, Villrreal were stronger to the finish and deserved their three points.
Madrid now trail leaders Barcelona by 12 points and that gap will open up further if they beat Girona on Monday.