World record signing Gareth Bale scored on his long-awaited Real Madrid debut on Saturday, but his side were still held 2-2 at Villarreal.
Real Madrid's Welsh striker Gareth Bale celebrates after scoring for Real Madrid during the Spanish league football match against Villarreal CF.
The Welshman, who joined Madrid from Tottenham for a reported record fee of around 80 million pound (US$124 million, 94 million euros) earlier this month, turned home Dani Carvajal's cross five minutes from half-time to send Madrid in level at the break after Cani had given Villarreal a deserved lead.
Bale was then withdrawn to make way for Angel Di Maria on the hour mark, but the visitors were in front just two minutes later when Cristiano Ronaldo's effort ricocheted past Sergio Asenjo in the Villarreal goal.
However, Giovani Dos Santos, another former Tottenham player, swept home after Diego Lopez had denied Cani a second 21 minutes from time to preserve Villarreal's unbeaten record on their return to the top flight as Real fell two points behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona at the top of the table.
"I think it is a fair result because Villarreal played well, they are a very good team," said Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.
"The matches after an international break are always difficult. The preparation is different and it is not just a physical problem, but a mental one too.
"The reaction after the first goal was good and with more attention we could have won, but it was a fair result."
With Madrid sporting four changes in all since their last outing, Ancelotti's men were pulled apart in the early stages by the hosts and were thankful to Lopez for making two important stops from Jonathan Pereira.
The hosts did finally go in front on 20 minutes when a loose ball fell perfectly for Cani inside the area and his scuffed effort looped over Lopez and into the net.
Lopez then pulled off a sensational double save to deny Javier Aquino doubling Villarreal's advantage, but Real slowly started to find a route back into the game and should have been level when Ronaldo headed wildly wide from Sergio Ramos' fine pass.
The visitors were level five minutes before the break though and it was Bale who was on target as he slid in to turn Carvajal's driven cross home.
Bale came close again just after the break as he whistled a shot just over, but having only played 30 minutes of competitive action so far this season he was then understandably withdrawn along with fellow debutant Asier Illarramendi on the hour mark.
And within two minutes Madrid were ahead in bizarre fashion as Ronaldo's initial effort was blocked but rebounded back off the Portuguese's shins and past the helpless Sergio Asenjo.
Villarreal weren't to be denied though and after Lopez had produced another stunning save to turn away Cani's drive from distance, Dos Santos reacted quickest to drive the ball into the far corner.
Barcelona maintained their 100 percent league record in controversial circumstances as Alexis Sanchez's injury time goal handed them a 3-2 win over Sevilla.
The visitors were left fumming as not only did the Chilean's goal arrive after the three minutes of additional time indicated by the referee had been played, but they also had what appeared to be a perfectly good goal ruled out in the second-half.
"It was a robbery. If they take so many things away from us, it has been a robbery," Sevilla captain Fernando Navarro told Canal Plus.
"Everyone has seen what has happened, we have played a good game, but with things like this you can't do anything."
Dani Alves had headed Barca into a first-half lead before the first controversial moment arrived when Juan Cala's header was ruled out for a push 25 minutes from time.
Lionel Messi then looked to have sealed the points when he fired home 15 minutes from time, but Sevilla bounced back with two goals in the final 10 minutes from Ivan Rakitic and Coke.
However, there was one final twist as Sanchez prodded home from close range after Beto could only parry Messi's driven cross.