The W-L report
Real Madrid secured a gritty 1-0 win against Villarreal, but the vibes were highkey messy by the final whistle. The victory keeps José Mourinho’s squad six points behind Barcelona, but all eyes are on the drama surrounding Vinícius Júnior. After coming off the bench, Vinícius thought he secured the game with a goal, but VAR had other plans. The ref sent him off for pulling the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba, nixing the goal and potentially setting the star up for a ban right before El Clásico on October 25.
Mbappé’s mixed bag
Kylian Mbappé was back in the starting XI after dealing with a knee issue, but the reception was a total mixed bag. He heard some whistles from fans unhappy with his recent form, though he still looked like the team's main character, hitting the post and forcing key saves from keeper Peter Gulacsi. Despite the pressure, the team stayed locked in.
Diomandé steps up
The hero of the match was summer arrival Yan Diomandé. The record signing smashed home a sharp low finish after an assist from Federico Valverde, putting the only goal of the game on the board. Thibaut Courtois also stepped up with some clutch saves to keep the clean sheet for the 10-man side.
Why it matters
Madrid needs these points to stay in the title race, but losing Vinícius to a suspension could be a massive L for their upcoming schedule. The pressure is on for this team to find their flow before the big clash with Barcelona.
