Real Madrid temporarily moved to the top of LaLiga on Saturday after securing a 3-1 victory over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The first half offered little excitement, with Real Madrid dominating possession but failing to find the breakthrough. Vinicius Junior and Franco Mastantuano were the most active players during the opening 45 minutes, combining for 12 attempts on goal. However, Villarreal’s compact and disciplined defense stood firm.
Villarreal came closest to scoring before halftime when Tani Oluwaseyi was played through on goal, skillfully beating two defenders. Unfortunately for the visitors, his shot was denied by a quick and decisive Thibaut Courtois.
The deadlock was broken almost immediately after halftime. Vinicius Junior found space on the left side of the box and fired a shot that deflected in at the near post, sending the home crowd into celebration.
Continuing to apply pressure, Vinicius earned a penalty later in the half, which he calmly converted with a powerful low shot past Arnau Tenas, extending Real Madrid’s lead to 2-0.
Villarreal, however, showed resilience. Their record signing Georges Mikautadze found space with no defenders near him and struck a low, precise shot to halve the deficit, silencing the Bernabeu.
The momentum shifted dramatically four minutes later when Santiago Mourino was shown a second yellow card and sent off, leaving Villarreal down to 10 men.
Taking full advantage of the extra player, Real Madrid sealed the win when Kylian Mbappe redirected a third goal from just outside the penalty spot, effectively putting the game beyond doubt.
With this win, Real Madrid move two points clear of Barcelona, who are set to play on Sunday, while Villarreal remain in third place.
**Match Details:**
– Scorers: Vinicius Junior (47′, 69′ penalty), Kylian Mbappe (81′); Georges Mikautadze (73′)
– Red Card: Santiago Mourino (77′)
*Photo credit: Denis Doyle, 2025 Getty Images*
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