Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal, keeping them six points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona, even as winger Vinícius Júnior was sent off for hair-pulling. Vinícius, who came on as a substitute, had a goal disallowed before receiving a red card after a VAR review confirmed he pulled the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba.
Read More
Despite playing with ten men, Real Madrid held on for the win, temporarily positioning themselves third in the league. The incident raised concerns for the team, as Vinícius risks a suspension that could rule him out of El Clásico set for October 25. Madrid midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni expressed confusion about the red card, stating, "I don’t know what’s going on with the referees, with this red card, I don’t understand. But the most important thing is the victory."
Kylian Mbappé returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a knee issue sustained while playing for France during the international break. Although he faced mixed reactions from the crowd, with some fans calling him unprofessional, he remained Madrid’s most prominent threat in the first half. His attempts included hitting the post from a lay-off by Álvaro Carreras and forcing saves from Villarreal goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi.
The match started slowly, with Villarreal managing to limit Madrid's chances. However, Yan Diomandé, Madrid’s record signing, scored his first goal for the club after a well-crafted play from Federico Valverde. When Vinícius thought he had added a second goal, the joy turned to frustration as the referee, Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos, disallowed the goal and sent him off after the VAR review.
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made key saves to maintain the lead, including an impressive stop against Carlos Romero, as Madrid ultimately celebrated a crucial three points despite Vinícius's dismissal.