Real Madrid made their last away trip of the La Liga season when they faced Villarreal on Sunday evening, which ended in an exciting and dramatic 4-4 draw. Everything was going smoothly for the champions, who had taken a 4-1 lead at halftime thanks to goals from Arda Güler, Joselu, and Lucas Vázquez. However, Alexander Sørloth remarkably scored four goals to bring the Yellow Submarine back on level terms.

1. How much of a fight would Villarreal put up?

Villarreal needed a win in this match to boost their hopes of European football next season. With the draw, their fate of not competing at the continental level in the 2024/25 season is almost certainly sealed. Not only that, but Real Madrid have won only one of their last six trips to the Estadio de la Cerámica, making it their worst run against an opponent since a similar streak against Deportivo La Coruña ended in 2008. This run continued with another forgettable appearance in Villarreal, and Real Madrid will now aim to end it in the 2024/25 season, when more will likely be at stake.

2. Would Andriy Lunin be able to put himself back into contention?

It is becoming clear that Thibaut Courtois will start between the sticks in London on June 1, and Carlo Ancelotti has confirmed that the Belgian will start against Real Betis at the end of next week. This effectively marked the last chance for Andriy Lunin to change his mind. On the field, rather than tugging at his heartstrings, conceding four goals in 90 minutes for the first time in a Real Madrid shirt was the worst possible outcome, especially when it came from just 2.06 xG. His defense contributed little by allowing 21 shots, further confirming the option currently favored by Ancelotti. For Lunin, it marks a bitter end to an otherwise impressive season.

3. Is this last chance saloon for the second string?

Carlo Ancelotti indicated in the build-up that this would be the final game on the field for his reserve options, with next weekend’s last league fixture of the season effectively serving as a practice session for the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund a week later. This means that the players performing had their last chance to stake a claim, even though most of them knew they would need an injury or a miracle to find their way into the starting line-up. If they proved themselves here, they could hope for a significant role off the bench. However, despite Arda Güler’s brace and the two-goal contributions from Brahim Díaz and Lucas Vázquez, it doesn’t seem like anyone will come out of this game with a significantly increased chance of playing at Wembley.

1. Is Arda Güler a midfielder or a forward?

When Arda Güler’s signing was announced last summer, most people expected him to settle into the midfield three and provide a long-term replacement for Luka Modrić. Now, the Turkish teenager is operating like one of the front line players, at times resembling Brahim Díaz, at other times Jude Bellingham, and even playing similarly to Rodrygo Goes in some moments. Here, he has primarily played from the right in the most advanced position, showing up at the right place at the right time to score two good goals with his excellent reading of the game and movement as he tries to cut inside. This brings his tally in La Liga this season to six, more than other young forwards like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, firmly showcasing his goal-scoring ability. Where he fits in next season, with the expected strengthening of the team’s attack, will be an interesting topic to watch.

2. How does Jude Bellingham feel after watching that?

In the opening of tonight’s game, Juud Bellingham of Birmingham were one goal behind Girona’s Artem Dovbyk. Now, Dovbyk has increased his tally to 21, two ahead of Birmingham’s 19, but what’s even more disappointing for the English is that Alexander Sorloth has scored four to surpass him. Three of these goals came in just eight minutes when Villarreal made a comeback with the help of Gerard Moreno, who assisted all three. Birmingham will not only be dealing with the frustration of losing points for their team but also the realization that it’s highly unlikely they’ll finish the season as champions. To do so, they’ll need to score at least four goals against Betis in the next weekend.