Real Madrid 2-0 Villarreal: Valverde, Vinicius fire Los Blancos to crucial win against high-flying Yellow Submarine - Eurosport

Vinicius Junior netted a spectacular long-distance goal as Real Madrid returned to victory with a 2-0 triumph over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.

Federico Valverde's long-range shot took a deflection and found its way into the bottom corner, putting Real Madrid ahead in the first half. The team had chances to extend their lead during the first hour of play, as Vinicius and a returning Kylian Mbappe put Villarreal's defense under significant pressure.

The team in third place made a strong effort to level the score and believed they had earned a penalty when Aurelien Tchouameni tackled Thierno Barry inside the penalty area. However, a close offside call negated the foul.

The possibility of an upset faded away when Vinicius received the ball in the middle of the field, spun around, and launched a powerful shot into the top corner, sending the entire Bernabeu crowd into a frenzy of applause.

The only downside to an otherwise fantastic evening for Real Madrid occurred just before the end of stoppage time, when Dani Carvajal had to be carried off the pitch in tears after suffering what appeared to be a significant injury. This happened when he miscalculated a clearance while engaging in a challenge with Yeremi Pino near the sideline.

This victory keeps Carlo Ancelotti's team in second place, tied on points with Barcelona, who are set to face Alaves on Sunday.

Crisis? What Crisis? Let's Discuss

Real Madrid's week without a victory raised some eyebrows in the pre-game press conference, as coach Ancelotti acknowledged that the team's intensity was lacking.

However, that wasn't the case with Villarreal, as Los Blancos showcased a level of speed and intensity that is difficult for any rival to keep up with.

Desperate for a victory to regain momentum in the campaign, Ancelotti opted for his strongest midfield setup. He fielded Luka Modric, Eduardo Camavinga, and Valverde in the center, and this combination kept the game feeling under control, even when Villarreal held the ball for long stretches.

With the danger posed by Vinicius and Mbappe during counter-attacks, adopting a more defensive approach is not a problem at all.

Vinicius Shines With Another World-Class Moment

The supporters were thrilled to spot Kylian Mbappe's name on the lineup after his recent injury, but it was actually another talented forward from Real Madrid who took the spotlight that night, scoring a superb goal.

Vinicius found himself completely unmarked as he seized the ball in Villarreal's half. His long-range strike left the goalkeeper with no opportunity to react, soaring into the top corner of the net.

That wasn't the only showcase of Vinicius' talent during the game, as the Brazilian caused problems for Villarreal along the wings with his speed and skillful moves.

Real Madrid: Lunin received a score of 7, Mendy got an 8, Rüdiger was rated 7, Carvajal also earned an 8, Tchouameni scored 7, Modric shone with a 9, Camavinga had an 8, Valverde matched Modric with a 9, Bellingham received a 7, Mbappe was given an 8, and Vinicius excelled with a 9. On the bench: Militao was rated 7, Rodrygo got a 6, Guler received a 6, and Vazquez also earned a 6.

Villarreal Player Ratings: Conde (7), Kiko (5), Costa (7), Albiol (6), Cardona (7), Gueye (7), Comesana (7), Parejo (6), Baena (6), Barry (7), Pepe (6). Substitutes: Pino (6), Akhomach (6), Bailly (6), Terrats (6), Bernat (6).

14’ – SCORE! REAL MADRID 1-0 VILLARREAL (VALVERDE)

Wow, what a fantastic goal! Valverde takes a strike from distance, and his shot gets a little deflection on the way to finding the bottom corner. That’s an incredible effort, and his celebration was just as impressive, with the midfielder pumping his fists in the air. Truly top-notch. 1-0.

73’ – SCORE! REAL MADRID 2-0 VILLARREAL (VINICIUS JR)

What a fantastic goal! Vinicius Junior gathers the ball in the middle of the field and unleashes an astonishing shot that finds the top corner of the net. That's just unbelievable. It's 2-0!

This situation does not look promising at all. Both players are down after a challenge near the sideline, and Carvajal is shouting in agony. His teammates appear to be deeply worried. Replays reveal that Villarreal’s Pino had actually touched the ball away from Carvajal, and the contact occurred when Carvajal was trying to clear it with a volley, so Pino isn’t at fault here. However, that doesn’t matter much, as it seems like a very serious injury, possibly affecting Carvajal’s knee at first glance. A stretcher has been brought out, Carvajal is crying, and it’s a heartbreaking way to conclude what has been a fantastic match.

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