Real Madrid staged a dramatic comeback as the Spanish capital club came from 2-0 down to win 3-2 - and fire themselves back to the top of La Liga.
Five second half goals on Spain's eastern coast provided an entertaining conclusion to the weekend's action.
Manu Trigueros opened the scoring, showing great technique in arrowing a half-volleyed effort at a difficult height into the back of Keylor Navas' net before CedricBakambu doubled the home side's advantage with a slick finish.
But three goals in 19 minutes by AlvaroMorata, a dubious CristianoRonaldo penaltyand Gareth Bale - who marked his first start since November with a trademarkheaded finish,was enough to secure the three points, and put the pressure back on thechampionshipchasing pack.
Following Barcelona's win earlier in the day, Madrid were expected to be attacking from the off, but it wasin factthe hosts who created the first meaningfulchance of the night.
After a cagey opening 10 minutes, Gaspas was found at the edge of the area and expertlypoked his effort towards the top left-hand corner, but Navas' spectacular save at full stretchwas just enough to palm the ball away for a corner.
Villarreal's custodian was not to be outdone however, as SergioAsenjo provided a stunning save less that 10 minutes later frompoint blank range after a scuffed Benzema header.
Marcelo made space for himself down the left-hand flank and whipped in avenomousball towards the six-yard box allowing the French striker to test the Yellow Submarine's shot stopper.
But his effort was clawed away from thegoal lineby the off-balanced Spain international,denying a certain goal but leaving the 27-year-old with an injury he could not shake off - a cruciate injury which looks set to rule him out for the rest of the season.
The underdogs then spurned a great chance themselves, as SamuCastillejo fired over on thestretchfrom sixyards out just before the half hour mark.
Left back Costa, not for the first time during the opening 45 minutes, fired a low ball into Real's penalty area beating all in proximity.
But there was too much pace on the cross for the Villarrealwinger to reach comfortably, and the youngster could only scoop his shot over the bar- an opportunity that wouldhave provided a simpletap-inunder more composed circumstances.
KarimBenzema should have put his side one up just minutes into the second half when the former France internationalwas found 12 yards from goal with the space to take his shot first time. But the 29-year-old could only direct hisunchallengedeffort straight into the arms ofsubstitute goalkeeper Andres Fernandez.
Three minutes later the Lyon-born striker, and his teammates, were punished, asManu Trigueros'half-volley firedthrough a crowded penalty area andinto the left hand-side of Navas' net from the edge of the area,following awell-directed headedknock-down fromCastillejo.
Villarreal doubled their lead just five minutes later when Bakambu held his run well before being played in on goal by an inch-perfect pass from clubcaptainBrunoSoriano.
The 25-year-old Frenchman latched onto the beautifully weighted through-ball, beforeoverpowering Real Madrid defender SergioRamos and nestling his effort into the bottom left-hand corner of the visitors net.
Ronaldo thought he had equalised just moments later when the European Championships winning captainunleashed a thunderbolt volley that was timed to perfection.
But the Portugueseinternational was left in disbelief as he saw his effort cannon back out of the post and bounce off the stranded Fernandez to safety.
But three minutes later the visitors were back in it, as Bale notched his 9th goal of his La Liga campaign, due to hislengthy lay-off, with a powerful headed effort.
Madrid right-back Carvajal drove a flat ball from the edge of the areatowards the back post, and the Welshman rose highestabove all else in the six yard box and marked the first time the 27-year-old, Benzema and Ronaldo had allstarted together in 120 days with a trademark goal.
With 20 minutes to go the visitors were awarded a very controversial penaltyafter the refereedeemed Bruno guilty of handling the ball inside the area, even though itseemed to strike the 32-year-old's chest following a defensive block by Ruiz after Toni Kroos' long-range effort.
But seasoned penalty-takerRonaldo made no mistake from 12 yardsand levelled things up with a driven effort into the left-hand corner - much to thedispleasure of thoseinside theEstadio de la Ceramica.
The sensational 19 minuteturnaround was complete late-on as Morata fired a header through the arms of Fernandez after the 24-year-old latched onto asuperbin-swingingMarcelo cross from the left-hand side.
The on-loan Porto goalkeeper will feel he should have done better instoppingthe effort as it seemed to roll underneath the 30-year-old custodian before nestling into the back of the net.
The resultseesthe visitors go back to the top of La Liga by one point, but stillwitha game in hand over both Barcelona and Sevilla with the only negative of the night being thereturning Bale substituted off in the closing minutes due to injury.
Ya tenemos los 1�⃣1�⃣ jugadores elegidos por Fran Escribá para enfrentarse al @realmadrid en el #EstadioDeLaCeramica. #VillarrealRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/Wf1ZWT7OLF
�✅ 1⃣1⃣ @VillarrealCF  #RealMadrid #RMMovistar #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/HnS1A0cGFD