Real Madrid secured a narrow 1‑0 win over Villarreal on Sunday, but the victory was marred by the dismissal of winger Vinícius Júnior for pulling the hair of defender Nathan Saliba. The match, played at the Santiago Bernabéu, left Madrid six points behind league leaders Barcelona while keeping them in a provisional third‑place position.
The game began with a cautious first half. José Mourinho’s side started with a defensive shape, limiting Villarreal’s chances and forcing the visitors to play long balls. Kylian Mbappé, who had recovered from a knee issue sustained during France’s international break, was the most threatening player for Madrid in the opening 45 minutes. He hit the post from a lay‑off by Álvaro Carreras and later forced a good save from Peter Gulacsi, but found little support and was unable to find the net.
In the second half, Real Madrid’s Ivorian winger Yan Diomandé opened the scoring. A quick combination with Federico Valverde saw Diomandé slot a low finish into the far corner, giving the hosts a 1‑0 advantage. Vinícius, who had been brought on as a substitute, appeared to double the lead after a clever back‑pass from Jude Bellingham. However, the goal was disallowed when VAR footage showed the Brazilian pulling Saliba’s hair during the buildup. The referee, Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos, subsequently issued a red card, reducing Madrid to ten men for the remainder of the match.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Mourinho’s team held on for the win. Thibaut Courtois made several crucial saves, including an acrobatic stop against Carlos Romero, while the defense tightened up after the dismissal. Madrid’s supporters were divided in their reaction to Mbappé’s performance, with some booing his perceived lack of effort and others applauding his earlier displays. Aurélien Tchouaméni expressed frustration over the referee’s decision but emphasised the importance of the result, saying, “I don’t understand what’s going on with the referees, but the most important thing is the victory.”
The red card leaves Vinícius Júnior facing a potential suspension that could rule him out of the upcoming El Clásico on 25 October. Madrid will need to manage the situation carefully as they continue their push for a top‑four finish. The win keeps them within striking distance of Barcelona, and the team will look to build on this result in their next fixtures.