Real Madrid cruise to victory over Villarreal, with injuries shaping the match
Real Madrid secured a comfortable win over Villarreal, benefiting from Barcelona and Atlético slipping further behind in the title race. Ancelotti’s side moved three points clear as leaders, though they lost David Alaba to a knee injury and saw Mendy withdraw at half-time. Tchouaméni returned after a six‑week layoff, and goals from Bellingham, Brahim, Rodrygo, and Modric sealed the result for the hosts.
From the start, Real Madrid pressed Villarreal and aimed to neutralize the threat that Marcelino’s side posed. Villarreal lined up in a compact shape, matching a defensive five with a mid-block press. But as Madrid shifted the play toward the right, they found space and exploited gaps in a team that were still finding their rhythm early on. The match bore the hallmarks of a tense battle between a team chasing form and a challenger struggling to adapt under pressure.
Baena and Gerard’s injuries; Rodrygo’s goal
Madrid dominated much of the first half, spending long spells in the visitor’s half. Lucas Vázquez frequently attacked down the right, delivering crosses as the buildup around him developed. In the 29th minute, Álex Baena was forced off with an injury, a setback that echoed last season’s dramatic clashes between Madrid and their rivals. The Spaniard had been among Villarreal’s bright sparks in recent times, but the injury interrupted his night early on.
Gerard Moreno continued to be a constant threat for Villarreal, asking for more from the opening period and urging the tempo higher. Villarreal used their first substitution window to freshen up, briefly reducing the numerical balance as Madrid pressed with purpose. Yet the visitors found it hard to stem the waves of pressure that followed and paid the price in the middle of the half.
In a moment of real clarity, Modric moved the ball with a touch that only someone with intuition could pull off. He threaded a pass into space where Bellingham rose to head home with purpose, directing the effort with precision. Madrid kept pressing and a clinical finish from Rodrygo extended the lead, underscoring the home team’s confidence in front of goal.
“Luka Modric: Jude Bellingham’s Invisible Friend” became a popular caption as the action unfolded, capturing the idea that Madrid’s midfield maestro set the tempo for the night. Movistar Plus+ highlighted the moment on social media, commending the combined understanding between the two players and the momentum it gave Madrid.
Alaba’s injury and Rodrygo’s 2-0
The mood shifted late in the first half as bad news surfaced. David Alaba, trying to stop a maneuver from Gerard Moreno, twisted awkwardly and fell to the ground. A knee diagnosis soon followed, and the club confirmed a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. The injury left the Bernabéu with a sense of unease and a fear that Madrid might be without one of their most steady defenders for an extended period.
Rodrygo added to Madrid’s advantage after the break, a goal that arrived with the help of VAR to confirm it. The forward celebrated a ninth goal in his past 11 matches, a stark contrast to a quieter start to the season. The late recognition of the strike brought relief and a reminder of Madrid’s depth even as they coped with the loss of Alaba and a muscle issue that later forced Mendy out of the game for Fran García.
Madrid’s bench watched with a mixture of concern and resolve as the team pushed on. Ancelotti, who had seen his side face upheaval in front of him, relied on his squad’s resilience and experience to see the match through and claim the three points that kept them on top of the table.
Morales cuts before ‘olés’ and Modric sentences
Villarreal found a moment to strike back as Parejo aimed long passes toward the guests’ goal, and Morales stood as their main goalkeeper in the period of tension. The flow of the game suggested it could tilt in either direction, but Brahim produced a piece of improvisation that hurt Villarreal. The winger, aided by teammates who pressed high, left defenders exposed and created openings that Madrid exploited with clinical finishing.
One of the defining images of the night came when Madrid rediscovered their edge in the closing stages. Bellingham did not shy away from his responsibilities after a yellow card earlier in the match, and Modric sealed the result with a well-timed finish after sustained pressure from Rodrygo. The home side celebrated a dominant victory as Madrid’s players acknowledged the importance of the three points in a season defined by injuries and resilience.
As the match wound down, Madrid’s supporters enjoyed a chorus of celebratory “olés” for their team’s commitment to win despite adversity. The result, won in the face of significant injuries to Alaba and Mendy, underscored Madrid’s depth and their readiness to challenge for honours this season.
Data sheet:
4-Real Madrid: Lunin; Lucas Vázquez, Rüdiger, Alaba (Nacho, m.35), Mendy (Fran García, m.46); Kroos (Tchouaméni, m.78), Fede Valverde, Modric, Bellingham (Dani Ceballos, m.78); Brahim (Joselu, m.84) and Rodrygo.
1-Villarreal: Jorgensen; Altimira, Albiol (Cuenca, m.46), Mandi, Alfonso Pedraza, Parejo, Capoue, Álex Baena (Terrats, m.29), Ilias Akhomach (Trigueros, m.74); Morales (Brereton, m.79) and Gerard Moreno (Sorloth, m.46).
Goals: 1-0, m.25: Bellingham. 2-0, m.37: Rodrygo. 2-1, m.54: Morales. 3-1, m.64: Abraham. 4-1, m.68: Modric.
Judge: Jorge Figueroa Vázquez (Andalusian School). He cautioned Bellingham (67) and Tchouaméni (84) for Real Madrid; and Altimira (67), Ilias (74) and Capoue (85) for Villarreal.
Events: The match, played on the seventeenth day of LaLiga EA Sports, drew around 70,500 spectators to the covered Santiago Bernabéu stadium. Brazilian striker Endrick watched the proceedings from the stands.