Real Madrid remained unbeaten in 29 La Liga matches with a 2-0 victory over Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu.After their 36-game unbeaten streak across all competitions was halted by Lille in the UEFA Champions League midweek, Carlo Ancelotti’s side was eager to bounce back. However, Villarreal had enjoyed a solid start to the season, trailing Real by just a point after eight matchdays, signaling that this was set to be a tightly contested match. Early on, both teams exchanged chances, with Kylian Mbappé and Nicolas Pépé both missing the mark.##EDITORS_CHOICE##It didn’t take long for Real Madrid to assert themselves, breaking the deadlock inside 15 minutes. Federico Valverde’s well-struck shot from outside the box took a fortunate deflection off Pape Gueye, sending the ball through a crowd and past Diego Conde. Villarreal almost responded instantly, as Pépé’s header skimmed the crossbar, but the hosts maintained their narrow lead.As the game progressed, Villarreal settled into their rhythm, navigating Madrid’s pressing game well. However, they lacked the cutting edge to truly trouble Andriy Lunin, aside from a routine save from another Pépé effort. Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham came close to doubling Madrid’s advantage, curling a shot just wide as he continued to search for his first goal of the season.Toni Kroos’ lesson on ‘not crying over spilt milk’The second half began with plenty of energy but few clear-cut chances. Álex Baena’s free-kick into the side netting was the closest Villarreal came to equalizing. The pivotal moment arrived midway through the half when Vinícius Júnior, widely tipped to win the Ballon d’Or, showcased his brilliance with a powerful strike from the edge of the area. His effort struck the post on its way in, leaving Conde no chance and sealing the win for Los Blancos.YOU CAN WATCH THE GOALS HEREWith this victory, Real Madrid momentarily moved level on points with Barcelona at the top of the table, pending Barça’s game against Deportivo Alavés. The only downside for Ancelotti’s men came late in stoppage time, when Dani Carvajal picked up what appeared to be a serious injury, leaving his availability in doubt for the upcoming fixtures. Despite being competitive for much of the match, Villarreal suffered their first away defeat of the season, ultimately undone by their inability to convert chances into goals.La rodilla de Carvajal…Escalofríos pic.twitter.com/9EpI7oohEc— Kendry (@Keendry_) October 5, 2024 LA LIGA – MATCHDAY 9Friday Leganes – Valencia 0-0Saturday Espanyol – Mallorca 2-1 (1-0)/Kumbulla 18, Jofre 47 – Raillo 68/ Getafe – Osasuna 1-1 (1-0)/Yildirim 21 – Budimir 60/Las Palmas – Celta 0-1 (0-1)/Iglesias 28/Valladolid – Rayo Vallecano 1-2 (0-0)/Amallah 51 – de Frutos 57, 80/Real Madrid – Villareal 2-0 (1-0)/Valverde 14, Vinicius 73/Sunday 15.00: (2.45) Girona (3.45) Ath.Bilbao (3.05)17.15: (5.70) Alaves (4.00) Barcelona (1.60)19.30: (2.60) Sevilla (3.25) Betis (3.00)22.00: (3.40) Sociedad (3.20) Atl.Madrid (2.40)***odds are subject to change***
