Villarreal 0-2 Real Madrid Highlights, La Liga 2025-26: Kylian Mbappe Brace Sends Los Blancos Top

Hello, we’re back with another live blog, and it’s Villarreal Vs Real Madrid. Stay tuned for live updates.

• Fixture: Villarreal Vs Real Madrid, Matchday 21

• Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal, Spain

• Date: Saturday, January 24, 2025

• Time: 01:30 AM IST (January 25)

• Live Streaming: JioHotstar

We’re underway at La Cerámica! Villarreal get us started, knocking it back into their own half as they try to settle early.

Bright intent from the hosts. Pedraza’s delivery finds Buchanan in space on the right edge of the box, and Villarreal have numbers arriving. He looks to whip it back across goal first time, but doesn’t catch it cleanly and it sails out for a goal kick.

That’s Madrid’s best look so far. Mbappé plays a sharp one-two with Vinícius just outside the box on the left and then drives a low effort toward the near post. It’s skidding and awkward, but Júnior reads it well, gets down quickly and gathers at the second attempt. Good move, good save, warning signs for Villarreal.

Plenty of intent, not enough end product. Both teams have tried to keep it open, but clear chances have been at a premium. Madrid just about shade it statistically with more attempts and the only shots on target, while Villarreal have struggled to truly test the keeper. The tempo’s been decent, the structure less so in the final third. Feels like one moment of quality could swing this, second half needs sharper decisions in the box.

Back in action at La Cerámica, and it’s Madrid who get the ball rolling this time. They move it back into defence straight away, looking to build with a bit more control after the break. Villarreal hold their shape early, not pressing too high just yet.

Instant impact after the break! Vinícius does brilliantly to keep the ball in play down the left, dancing along the byline and squeezing into a tight pocket. His low pass ricochets off a Villarreal defender and breaks perfectly for Mbappé, who reacts quickest and rifles his finish through the narrowest of angles. Clinical and decisive.

That’s a real chance for the hosts. Parejo whips in a dangerous, teasing ball from deep on the left and Moreno ghosts in at the far post. He tries to guide it first time while stretching at full speed, but can’t keep it inside the frame and it drifts wide as the angle closes.

There it is, finally a shot on target for the hosts. Mikautadze pulls the trigger from distance, just left of centre, but it’s comfortable for Courtois who gathers without fuss. Tells the story of Villarreal’s night so far: plenty of effort, not enough precision. Madrid’s shape has kept them at arm’s length, and time is starting to become a real factor now.

Half-chance from the set piece but nothing comes of it. Pepe swings the corner in with pace from the right, aiming for the danger zone, yet it’s too close to Courtois. The keeper steps forward confidently and claims it cleanly, slowing things down.

Mbappé bursts into the box with pace and is clipped by Pedraza, prompting an immediate penalty decision. The French star steps up and shows supreme confidence, delicately dinking a panenka straight down the middle while Júnior dives to his right. It’s a bold, ice-cold finish under pressure, doubling Madrid’s lead late on and all but sealing the result as Villarreal run out of time.

The score looks comfortable, but this was anything but easy. Madrid had to be patient in a tense, tactical contest away to third-placed Villarreal, where clear chances were hard-earned. Mbappé broke the deadlock soon after the restart with sharp instincts in a crowded box, shifting the momentum just when the game felt tightest.

The hosts threatened in spells but lacked the precision to truly trouble Courtois. As Villarreal pushed late, spaces opened up, and Mbappé kept his nerve from the spot in stoppage time with an audacious panenka to seal his brace. Big-game composure from Madrid, and a statement win that sends them top of the table.

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