Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 2-0 triumph over Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday, thanks to goals from Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior. The victory, which followed their midweek Champions League loss to Lille, keeps Los Blancos unbeaten in the Spanish league and level with leaders Barcelona, who face Alaves on Sunday.
Valverde opened the scoring with a deflected shot in the 14th minute, while Vinicius doubled the lead with a powerful strike from outside the box, helping Real Madrid pull four points clear of third-placed Villarreal. Despite the win, Madrid’s joy was tempered by an injury to Dani Carvajal, who was stretchered off in stoppage time with a potentially serious knee injury.
“It seems serious, and we’ll have more details in the coming hours,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti, expressing concern over the defender’s condition. Ancelotti also revealed that Vinicius would undergo tests after experiencing shoulder and neck discomfort, adding to Madrid’s injury woes.
Kylian Mbappe, who recovered from a thigh issue, started the game but had a quiet outing, with goalkeeper Diego Conde denying his best chance. The French forward was substituted after 70 minutes, replaced by Rodrygo Goes. Midfield maestro Toni Kroos remained sidelined, although he was present to watch the game from a box at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Villarreal, led by coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, put up a strong fight and came close to scoring when Nicolas Pepe’s header clipped the crossbar. They also appealed for a penalty early in the second half after Aurelien Tchouameni appeared to pull down striker Barry, but the forward was ruled offside.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin, filling in for the injured Thibaut Courtois, was tested by a free-kick from Alex Baena, but the Ukrainian stood firm as Madrid’s defence held off Villarreal’s attack.
In the closing stages, Vinicius sealed the victory with a stunning goal, unleashing a shot into the top corner. However, the mood shifted when Carvajal went down under pressure from Yeremi Pino and was taken off the field in visible distress.
Midfielder Valverde, who scored Madrid’s first goal, highlighted the importance of Carvajal’s health, saying, “The game was fine, but Dani’s well-being is what really matters.” Villarreal defender Raul Albiol echoed those sentiments, expressing hope that Carvajal’s injury was not as serious as it looked.
Elsewhere in La Liga, nine-man Celta Vigo managed a 1-0 victory over bottom-of-the-table Las Palmas, while Osasuna drew 1-1 with Getafe. Espanyol secured a 2-1 win against Mallorca, and Rayo Vallecano triumphed by the same scoreline at Valladolid.
