Kylian Mbappé’s brace propelled Real Madrid to the top of La Liga with a 2-1 victory over Villarreal on Saturday, despite coach Carlo Ancelotti’s complaints about the team’s fatigue.
The win moved Los Blancos three points clear of rivals Barcelona, who had played two extra matches, while Barcelona prepared to face third-placed Atlético Madrid on Sunday in a crucial clash for the Spanish title.
Madrid were frustrated by the scheduling, which saw the match take place less than 72 hours after their dramatic Champions League penalty win against Atlético on Wednesday. Ancelotti voiced his displeasure, emphasizing that FIFA’s recommendation of a 72-hour rest between matches should be followed.
“The team has something special—character, commitment,” Ancelotti said. “We won’t play without a full 72 hours of rest between games.”
Despite these concerns, Madrid still had enough energy to secure a crucial win against a tough Villarreal side at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
“We kept pushing physically, especially in the second half. We were exhausted by the end, but that was expected,” Ancelotti added. “This victory says a lot about this team and the squad’s resilience.”
Ancelotti made a tactical choice, starting Vinícius Júnior on the bench after their intense midweek victory.
Villarreal came out strong, and Thibaut Courtois was forced into action early, making a sharp save to deny Ayoze Pérez’s effort. However, from the resulting corner, the home side took the lead when Juan Foyth scored from close range after a rebound.
Real Madrid responded quickly. Mbappé equalized just 17 minutes in. Brahim Díaz’s attempted lob was saved, but the Frenchman was quick to pounce on the rebound and finish calmly.
Mbappé wasn’t done yet. He scored his second after playing a key role in a counterattack, assisting Lucas Vázquez before finishing clinically inside the box. It was his 20th goal of the league season, putting him just one goal behind Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski in the scoring race.
Madrid then managed to hold onto their lead, with Courtois making another crucial save from Nicolás Pépé. Villarreal coach Marcelino García Toral made a change at halftime, bringing on Thierno Barry for Pépé, as the Yellow Submarine sought to avoid a first home defeat by Madrid in La Liga since 2017.
Foyth had a chance to equalize early in the second half but sent a volley over the bar from a good position.
Ancelotti introduced Vinícius and Luka Modrić to help regain control of the game, and Madrid weathered Villarreal’s pressure. Fede Valverde tested goalkeeper Diego Conde, while at the other end, Pérez came close with a powerful shot that narrowly missed the target.
“Starting wasn’t ideal, but that’s normal with little rest—it’s tough on the legs,” Courtois reflected. “But we bounced back quickly, defended well, and although we were very tired, our commitment made the difference.”
Now, Ancelotti and his team can relax and watch the title race unfold, with Atlético Madrid and Barcelona set to clash at the Metropolitano Stadium.
“It was important for us to win today,” Ancelotti said. “I’ll be watching the game tomorrow; it will be very entertaining. Tomorrow, I’ll be just a football fan.”
Elsewhere, Mallorca defeated Espanyol 2-1 with a late Vedat Muriqi penalty, the striker making up for an earlier own goal and missed penalty. Celta Vigo also won, beating bottom-of-the-table Valladolid 1-0 and handing them their 20th defeat of the season.
AFP
