Real Madrid concluded their last league match with a 1‑0 victory against Villarreal, thus gaining the precious three points before the Copa del Rey match against Roma. The match took place at the Santiago Bernabéu, where coach Carlo Ancelotti opted for a 4-3-3 formation, with former Juventus player Renato Veiga in defence, Ayoze and Ilias Akhomach in attack and the young Moleiro in the middle. On the pitch, the most surprising choice was the start with Diomande, who replaced Vinicius, the coach's favourite. Fede Valverde, who had recently suffered an ankle injury, returned to the pitch for a brief operation.
The match was very balanced from the first minute. Villarreal had the first chances, with Pape Gueye coming close to scoring with a shot. Madrid responded quickly with a pass from Alexander Arnold who set up Carreras, but the goal was blocked by the post. In the second half, Madrid introduced Cucurella in place of Carreras, but Villarreal remained aggressive, with Vinicius looking to create chances. The first goal of the match came in the 7th minute of the second half, when Diomande created a precision shot served by Valverde, who beat the goalkeeper Gulacsi. The goal was confirmed by VAR, who rejected possible interference.
Shortly afterwards, Vinicius had the opportunity to double the lead for Real, but his action was disallowed by VAR. The reason was a push gesture to Saliba's hair, which led to Vinicius' expulsion. The sending off left Madrid outnumbered, but the team remained calm and defended their lead until the end. The final result was 1‑0 in favor of Real Madrid.
The result was crucial for Real, who are approaching the final phase of the Champions League and preparing for a decisive match against Roma. The Spanish club has shown that it can handle difficult situations, maintaining discipline and concentration despite the dismissal of one of its key players. With the victory, Real Madrid positions itself better in the table and prepares to continue its run towards the final of the Copa del Rey.