In a thrilling clash on Matchday 8 of La Liga, Real Madrid showcased their dominance by defeating Villarreal 3-1. The star of the match was Vinicius Júnior, who netted two goals; the first came in the 46th minute, followed by a penalty in the 68th minute. Kylian Mbappé also contributed significantly, scoring in the 80th minute after an impressive play that left the Villarreal goalkeeper stranded.
Villarreal managed to find the net through Georges Mikautadze, who scored in the 72nd minute, giving the Yellow Submarine a glimpse of hope. However, Vinicius Júnior once again demonstrated his scoring touch with an exquisite strike earlier in the game’s second half, earning him accolades from the home crowd.
Overall, Vinicius Júnior was sensational, completing 63 accurate passes and attempting 5 shots on goal throughout the match. His teammate Kylian Mbappé had himself a great game as well, registering one goal, firing off three shots, and making 49 successful passes.
The tactical setup employed by Real Madrid’s head coach, Xabier Alonso Olano, featured a 4-5-1 formation with Thibaut Courtois guarding the net, supported by a defensive line of Federico Valverde, Éder Militão, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras. The midfield was composed of Dani Ceballos, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Franco Mastantuono, Arda Güler, and Vinicius Júnior, who played further up the field, with Kylian Mbappé leading the attack.
On the other hand, Villarreal’s manager, Marcelino García Toral, adopted a 4-4-2 formation. Arnau Tenas was in goal, with Álvaro Mouriño, Rafa Marín, Renato Veiga, and Sergi Cardona forming the defense. The midfielders consisted of Tajon Buchanan, Santi Comesaña, Thomas Partey, and Pape Gueye, while Tani Oluwaseyi and Alberto Moleiro made up the forward line.
Match official Guillermo Cuadra Fernández oversaw the proceedings of this exciting encounter.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid will visit Getafe in their next fixture, while Villarreal will host Real Betis.
With this victory, Real Madrid leads the league with 21 points, while Villarreal remains in third place with 16 points.
Substitutions for Real Madrid
- 63’ 2T – Arda Güler for Jude Bellingham, Dani Ceballos for Eduardo Camavinga
- 74’ 2T – Franco Mastantuono for Brahim Díaz
- 82’ 2T – Kylian Mbappé for Rodrygo
Yellow Cards for Real Madrid:
- 32’ 1T – Aurélien Tchouaméni (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
- 45’ 1T – Franco Mastantuono
Substitutions for Villarreal
- 45’ 2T – Alberto Moleiro for Georges Mikautadze, Tajon Buchanan for Nicolas Pépé
- 73’ 2T – Pape Gueye for Alfonso Pedraza
- 83’ 2T – Tani Oluwaseyi for Adrià Altimira
- 85’ 2T – Santi Comesaña for Dani Parejo
Yellow Cards for Villarreal:
- 11’ 1T – Sergi Cardona (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
- 20’ 1T – Álvaro Mouriño (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
- 22’ 2T – Pape Gueye (Insulting or disapproving of the referee)
Red Card for Villarreal:
- 31’ 2T – Álvaro Mouriño (Red for second yellow)
This match solidifies Real Madrid’s position as a strong contender, while Villarreal will be looking to bounce back in their upcoming match.