Real Madrid were defeated at the Santiago Bernabéu on a wild Saturday clash with Villarreal, a match defined by dramatic moments and standout individual performances. Samu Chukwueze produced a pair of brilliant strikes to swing the mood in favor of Villarreal, while Pau Torres inadvertently steered the ball into his own net and Vinicius Junior found the back of the net for Real Madrid, with Morales replying for the visitors.
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The duel unfolded with open chances at both ends, and the quality from Vinicius and Chukwueze shone through. Chukwueze struck first into a decisive moment, but the game’s decisive edge came late as he curled a superb shot into the top corner to seal the three points for Setién’s side.
The result leaves Real Madrid a long way behind the title race, potentially out of reach for LaLiga, while Villarreal sit fifth on 47 points, four points behind a Champions League spot and two ahead of a Betis side playing Cádiz on Sunday.
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Minute by minute Real Madrid vs. Villarreal from LaLiga
Press conferences after Real Madrid vs. Villarreal
“When you plan a game, you hope the plan goes as hoped. The main thing is that we took the three points and closed the gap toward the top with a strong rhythm. The feel of the game matters as much as the score. We played well, even if we started with some errors. It took about 10 to 15 minutes to settle into the tempo we wanted.”
“Samu delivered a very complete, extraordinary performance today. Not only for the two goals, but also for his defensive contributions, his ball control and his ability to fix opponents… he is a player who was already exceptional before we came here, and now he is in great form. He is a fantastic footballer and a true professional who keeps working to reach higher goals.”
“No, we didn’t alter the plan at half-time. It’s never easy to play here; belief can be hard to translate when results aren’t good, but we keep improving, and that’s something to be proud of. The reward shows in matches like this.”
“I wasn’t worried about who was on the field. Madrid has exceptional players, with quality and precision in their actions. The plan would have been the same, and the game would have followed a similar arc. Today we kept a midfield presence to control the tempo.”
“I was upset when I saw on the tablet that Tchouaméni appeared to catch Samu’s shin with his studs. He should have at least been reviewed with VAR. The on-field decision felt off. The image required further clarity, and I don’t know what they told him about VAR.”
Ancelotti, in the press conference
“There hasn’t been balance. It’s been difficult to win the ball back. We were out of balance, and that’s why three goals went in. Villarreal defended well and controlled the pace at times. We led twice but couldn’t convert the chances into a third.”
Tchouaméni: “All players showed a rhythm below their usual level. Motivation wasn’t easy, and the match demanded high commitment.”
Facing the Champions League, “No, this defeat doesn’t change our mindset. Wednesday’s game will be different. Compared to last season, our LaLiga level has dipped.”
The referee: “The defeat doesn’t feel deserved, even though we didn’t play as we should. Some players could have contributed more. We had many chances and lacked balance. The repeated offenses earned a yellow, and after nine it shouldn’t reset. That aspect felt excessive.”
What’s most worrying is the balance. “We need to be stronger both collectively and individually. Wednesday’s game will tell a different story.”
Eleven against Wednesday. “Yes, perhaps the Camp Nou would be the next test. We rotated today to manage wear and tear from the Barcelona clash. It didn’t go as hoped, but we’re already looking toward Wednesday.”
Energy: “Preparing for a match against two teams of this caliber is always tough.”
Put your arms down. “This isn’t going to happen. We have ten games left and we’ll fight to accumulate points.”
Four attackers. “Balance matters, but sometimes you set up to be open. We chose to emphasize attack and press, even if it meant losing some balance. If I go with four forwards, it signals that I don’t believe balance is the be-all.”
Videos, lineups and news from Real Madrid vs. Villarreal
The winning goal, a piece of art by Chukwueze
Chukwueze had warned it would be his night
Vinicius’ goal against Villarreal
Setién called for a red for this Tchouaméni challenge
Vinicius and Benzema applauded by the crowd after being named
Great atmosphere at the Santiago Bernabéu
Villarreal’s starting XI confirmed
Real Madrid’s starting XI confirmed
Summary of Real Madrid vs. Villarreal
All statistics of Real Madrid vs. Villarreal
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