Real Madrid beaten after naming starting XI without a Spanish player for first time in their history
Baku, January 8, AZERTAC
Real Madrid were beaten by Villarreal on Saturday having not named a Spanish player in the starting XI for the first time in La Liga history, according to Goal.com.
A Yeremy Pino strike and Gerard Moreno penalty cancelled out Karim Benzema's equaliser from the spot as Carlo Ancelotti's side fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Estadio de la Ceramica. The team news before the match provided just as big a talking point, though, with Real Madrid's starting line-up not featuring a Spanish player for the first time since the club was founded, some 120 years ago.
Spain international Marco Asensio did come on for Federico Valverde in the 82nd minute but to no avail, as Ancelotti's side slipped to their second league defeat all season. The result gives Barcelona the opportunity to move three points clear at the top of La Liga when they take on Atletico Madrid on Sunday.
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