Kylian Mbappe found the net twice in the first half, propelling LaLiga title contenders Real Madrid to a 2-1 triumph over Villarreal, marking the visitors’ first victory at the Estadio de la Ceramica in eight years.
Real Madrid quickly faced a harsh reality check following their UEFA Champions League win against Atletico Madrid earlier in the week, conceding a goal in the seventh minute due to a lapse in dealing with a Villarreal corner.
Juan Foyth was in the right place at the right time to slot the ball home from close range, marking Villarreal’s first goal in the opening 15 minutes of a LaLiga home fixture this season.
Foyth’s goal, his first since August 2023, ignited a spark in Los Blancos, who responded swiftly with two goals from Mbappe in just six minutes.
The French star found the back of the net from a rebound to level the score, followed by a pinpoint shot that eluded Diego Conde from Lucas Vazquez’s cut-back, bringing his tally to 30 goals since his arrival at Real last summer.
Facing a deficit at half-time, Villarreal manager Marcelino brought on forward Thierno Barry, who nearly made an instant impact, sending a powerful header just over Thibaut Courtois’ crossbar.
El Submarino Amarillo continued to ramp up the pressure on Los Blancos until Carlo Ancelotti introduced Antonio Rudiger and Vinicius Junior just after the hour mark, attempting to quell Villarreal’s growing momentum.
The substitutions provided Real with a semblance of control; however, their slender lead still left Villarreal with a glimmer of hope as the match approached the last 10 minutes.
Ayoze Perez squandered a crucial opportunity to equalise, firing his right-foot shot into the stands behind Courtois’ goal. The Spain international would come to regret that miss as Real held on through a tense finish to ascend to the top of LaLiga, increasing the pressure on rivals Atletico and Barcelona ahead of their significant face-off on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the hosts find themselves five points behind fourth-placed Athletic Club after suffering their first home defeat of 2025.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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