Real Madrid 3-1 Villarreal: Goals and Highlights
Summary
Real Madrid bounced back from the Madrid Derby defeat with a 3-1 win over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu in LaLiga Matchday 8. Xabi Alonso’s side, with a Vinícius Júnior brace and a Kylian Mbappé goal, top the table with 21 points.
Villarreal, under Marcelino García Toral, fought back with a beauty but were done in by a red card and defensive mistakes, now in third with 16 points. Real Madrid had 69% possession and 3.56 xG to Villarreal’s 1.05 in front of 75,216 fans.
Goals
Real Madrid scored in the 47th minute when Vinícius Júnior cut in from the left, his shot deflected off Santi Comesaña and past Arnau Tenas. In the 69th minute Vinícius scored a penalty after Rafa Marín’s foul, squeezing the ball under Tenas. Villarreal scored in the 73rd minute with a long-range beauty from Georges Mikautadze assisted by Pape Gueye. Kylian Mbappé sealed the win in the 81st minute, slotting in a pass from Brahim Díaz, but limped off with an ankle injury soon after.
Player of the Match
Vinícius Júnior was Player of the Match for his dynamic brace and constant threat. His flair, including winning and scoring a penalty, was key, with Alonso saying “he’s unstoppable”.The first half was cagey, with Real Madrid’s Franco Mastantuono and Mbappé missing early chances, and Thibaut Courtois saving Tani Oluwaseyi’s one-on-one for Villarreal.
The second half exploded when Vinícius scored, and Villarreal were down to 10 men in the 77th minute when Santiago Mouriño was sent off for his second yellow for fouling Vinícius. Jude Bellingham came on and had two shots saved by Tenas, and Federico Valverde fired wide late. Villarreal’s Nicolas Pépé and Thomas Partey had chances, but Courtois and Real Madrid’s finishing was clinical. Alonso praised the defence, Marcelino lamented the red card.
