Ex-Arsenal star Santi Cazorla adds to Real woes with double in 2-2 draw
SANTI CAZORLA scored his first club double since 2014 as he helped Villarreal hold European champions Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw.
The former Arsenal midfielder — who has been through injury hell since picking up Achilles problems in North London — put another dent in Los Blancos' title hopes with two for his current club.
His opener was a fine inside-foot strike to the far post first time with just four minutes on the clock.
The visitors thought they would go on to take the three points as Karim Benzema and Rafael Varane put them 2-1 up after 20 minutes.
But in the closing moments, the 34-year-old rolled back the years as he ghosted in with a far-post header to snatch a point at Estadio de la Ceramica.
It is a miracle Cazorla is even playing, given has been through a nightmare after an Achilles problem became infected while at Arsenal.
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It forced him out of the game for two years and he had to have tissue from his arm transferred to his ankle to cover a wound.
The result crucially got Villarreal out of the relegation zone in La Liga, while Real missed the opportunity to draw level on points with Sevilla in third.
Solari's side won the Club World Cup on December 22 and were catching up on one La Liga game.
Gareth Bale was taken off at half time for Isco as another match passed by without the Welshman managing to play for 90 minutes.
Real are seven points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona.