Alexander Sorloth’s four goals inspired Villarreal to come from behind and secure a 4-4 draw at home against La Liga champions Real Madrid.
A much-altered Real Madrid side led 4-1 at halftime, with goals from Joselu and Lucas Vazquez complementing a brace from Arda Guler.
Former Crystal Palace striker Sorloth, who had scored Villarreal’s first goal before the break, added three more in the first 11 minutes of the second half, helping Villarreal earn a point.
Sorloth’s goals, against a Real Madrid side missing Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr., moved him two goals clear of Girona’s Artem Dovbyk at the top of La Liga’s scoring charts with 23 goals, with one round of games remaining.
Real Madrid took the lead in the 14th minute when Guler finished off a well-worked move, and ex-Stoke City forward Joselu headed across goal from Vazquez’s cross to double the lead at the half-hour mark.
Sorloth halved Real Madrid’s lead shortly before the break with a header, but the visitors quickly responded with two more goals. Vazquez scored after a clever Brahim Diaz flick, and Guler netted his second in first-half injury time.
In an effort to salvage something against Carlo Ancelotti’s side, Villarreal boss Marcelino Garcia Toral made a triple substitution at the break, bringing on the experienced trio of Francis Coquelin, Raul Albiol, and Bertrand Traore.
The changes paid off for the Yellow Submarine, who reduced the three-goal deficit thanks to Sorloth. The Norwegian’s second goal came from a header, followed by two left-foot strikes to level the match.
A point for Villarreal ends their hopes of qualifying for European football next season, as they sit eighth, four points behind Real Betis in seventh, with just one game remaining.
Real Madrid’s focus remains on their Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund on June 1.