Villarreal 1 - Real Madrid 1

Villarreal: Reina; Javi Venta, Quique Alvarez, Ballesteros, Arruabarrena; Guayre, Pedro Martí, Riquelme, Roger (Arzo 90'); José Marí (Sonny Anderson 69'), Víctor (Calleja 58'). 4-4-2.
Real Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Pavón, Rubén, Raúl Bravo; Beckham, Iván Helguera (Borja 83'), Zidane (Solari 26'), Figo; Portillo (Nuñez 76'), Raúl. 4-4-2.

Team changes: Villarreal: Guayre, Riquelme, Roger for Belletti, Coloccini, Calleja / Madrid: Pavón, Rubén, Portillo for Roberto Carlos, Cambiasso, Ronaldo.

Goals:
1-0. 71. Anderson. Ran on to long pass on left of area and hit shot over Casillas.
1-1. 85. Nuñez. Rose above defence to head Beckham's corner into net.

Villarreal came close to beating Real Madrid for the first time in their history, but in the end had to settle for a draw thanks to a late goal from substitute Antonio Nuñez.

The league champions were missing Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Cambiasso, all of whom were away on international duty, and Quieroz had to bring in Rubén and Portillo to his starting line up and call up five B team youngsters (Borja, Nuñez, Mejia, Jordi and Juanfran) to complete his squad. Riquelme was making his debut for the home side, who were also missing their Brazilian international Belletti.

Riquelme showed some good touches early on, and José Marí should have scored when he missed the target with only the keeper to beat on the half hour mark. Zidane had gone closest for the visitors, but he had to leave the field with an injury midway through the first half and was replaced by Solari.

Madrid were starting to get the upper hand though, and shortly before the break Reina had to punch away a dangerous Beckham free kick. Within a few minutes of the restart they had hit the woodwork twice, Pavón heading Beckham's corner against the post and Salgado striking the bar after Figo had put him through.

Floro turned to reinforcements though, and brought on Calleja for the injured Víctor and then Sonny Anderson for José Marí. And the Brazilian striker made his mark almost immediately, running on to a long ball down the left to crash a spectacular volley over the head of the surprised Casillas and in to the net. Madrid were on the back foot, and Riquelme came close to making it two when he shot at the keeper when put through.

But let off the hook, the visitors came back to equalise when Nuñez got on the end of Beckham's corner to head the ball in off Arruabarrena past Reina. Madrid could even have won it after that, Reina having to make an excellent save from an injury time Beckham free kick. But a draw was a fair result, and both remain unbeaten this season.