Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior were the heroes of the night as Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Villarreal at the Bernabeu, easing the pressure after their recent stumble against Lille.
The La Liga clash on Saturday saw Los Blancos produce a solid, if unspectacular, display, with Valverde stepping up in a key role to inspire his side.
The breakthrough came early, in the 14th minute, when Valverde unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box.
The strike took a crucial deflection, wrong-footing the Villarreal goalkeeper, and nestled into the bottom corner. It was a goal that settled the nerves around the Bernabeu, as the Madrid faithful hoped for a response after their recent defeat in Europe.
Villarreal nearly provided an immediate reply, as Nicolas Pepe’s thunderous shot rattled the crossbar just moments later, reminding Real Madrid that the contest was far from over.
Despite their attacking attempts, Villarreal lacked their usual cutting edge without star striker Ayoze Pérez, sidelined with an injury, which made it difficult for them to penetrate Real’s defense.
The first half saw Real Madrid control the tempo, enjoying 54% possession and managing nine shots, though only Valverde’s goal separated the two sides at halftime. Villarreal, despite six shots of their own, couldn’t find the breakthrough.
In the second half, Villarreal struggled to gain a foothold. Real Madrid, while not at their most fluid, remained in control, and their second goal came in the 73rd minute.
Valverde, ever-present in the midfield battle, drove forward with intent, and when he found Vinicius Junior in space, the Brazilian winger unleashed a fierce strike from outside the area that flew past the goalkeeper. Vinicius, often praised for his flair, showed his ability to finish from distance with a clinical hit that sealed the three points.
Valverde was the standout performer, combining defensive solidity with creative flair. His early goal gave Real Madrid the platform they needed, and his assist for Vinicius highlighted his all-around influence.
Completing 77 of 80 passes, the Uruguayan midfielder was almost flawless in possession, showcasing his importance to Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.
For Villarreal, this was a disappointing night, their second defeat of the season leaving them in third place.
The absence of Ayoze Pérez clearly hurt their attacking rhythm, and while Pepe’s early effort was a close call, they never truly troubled Thibaut Courtois in Real Madrid’s goal.
The victory brings Real Madrid level on points with league leaders Barcelona, both sides now sitting at 21 points, though Barça holds a slight edge on goal difference.
Villarreal, still in the mix at third, will look to bounce back when they host Getafe on October 20.
Next up for Real Madrid is a trip to face Celta Vigo on October 19, before a high-stakes Champions League encounter against Borussia Dortmund three days later.
That match will be a repeat of the 2024 final, adding an extra layer of intrigue as Los Blancos seek to build momentum across all competitions.
