Real Madrid came back from two goals down to record a 3-2 win over Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday to return to the top of the La Liga standings.

The hosts created the first chance early on as Mario Gaspar's rising toe-punt brought a fine save from Keylor Navas, although it was Madrid who came closest to scoring in the first-half, but for Sergio Asenjo's remarkable reflex save to keep out Karim Benzema's point-blank header.

That would prove the goalkeeper's last contribution though as he needed to be substituted soon after, with Andres Fernandez coming on in his place to make his first Primera Liga appearance of the season.

The floodgates would open after the restart, with Villarreal opening the scoring just four minutes into the second-half, with the Galacticos failing to clear their lines to allow Manu Trigueros to volley into the ground and past the goalkeeper.

The hosts were 2-0 up just seven minutes later, Bruno sliding the ball through for Cedric Bakambu, with the Congolese forward holding off the challenge of Sergio Ramos before slotting low past Navas.Cristiano Ronaldo looked to get his side back into but saw his rasping volley cannon off the woodwork, although with 64 minutes gone they got their goal, Dani Carvajal crossing in to find Gareth Bale, who had the simple task of heading home from four yards out.

Real Madrid were then handed the chance to level things up from the spot after winning a penalty for handball in the area, with Ronaldo stepping up to smash home past Fernandez, despite the keeper going the right way.

And, with just five minutes remaining Zinedine Zidane's men completed the turn-around, Marcelo receiving the ball out wide before crossing in to find Alvaro Morata, with the substituted heading down and into the back of the net after the goalkeeper failed to get a full glove to the ball.