Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari admitted frustration after their 2-2 draw with Villarreal.

Santi Cazorla scored twice as Villarreal denied Real Madrid a chance to reduce the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Cazorla's curler earned the hosts an early lead before Karim Benzema's header made it 1-1 after seven minutes.

Raphael Varane's header put Real ahead, but Cazorla's late header moved Villarreal out of the relegation zone.

Solari said, "We had it in our hands, we had to kill the match, then they pressed and scored the equaliser, they squeezed a lot, they are at home, they need the points. They attacked very well and we lacked depth."

On his decision to substitute Luka Modric, Solari explained, "He has given everything, Modric played with flu and has given us a lot of energy, everything he had, he made a great effort and a great match, when you leave everything you do not have energy for 90 minutes.

"There are other players that can play, they are not Ballon d'Ors, but (Fede) Valverde at the moment he entered gave us energy and control, he has that stride and we are happy with the contribution of the youth."