Real Madrid Overcomes Slow Start to Defeat Villarreal 2-1

VILLARREAL, Spain — Real Madrid rallied after a sluggish start to defeat Villarreal 2-1 in La Liga on Saturday, with Kylian Mbappé scoring both goals for the visitors at Estadio de la Cerámica.

The match began poorly for Madrid, as Villarreal’s Juan Foyth netted an early goal in the seventh minute. The Argentine defender capitalized on a corner kick, striking the ball past Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois.

Facing mounting pressure and the possibility of dropping points in the title race, Madrid equalized in the 17th minute. Mbappé, who has been in fine form, took a shot that was initially saved but got his own rebound, slotting the ball into the net for his 20th La Liga goal this season.

Just six minutes later, Mbappé struck again, this time with a well-placed finishing shot to give Madrid a 2-1 lead. “He’s in incredible form,” said Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. “We depend on his skills and ability to score important goals.”

As the game progressed, Madrid looked to maintain their lead, while Villarreal fought to regain the initiative. Despite several attempts to equalize, including a strong shot that Courtois saved, the hosts were unable to find the back of the net.

“We started strong, and the early goal from Foyth gave us confidence,” said Villarreal manager Quique Setién. “But Madrid’s experience showed, especially Mbappé’s quality.”

With the win, Real Madrid temporarily moves to the top of La Liga, ahead of rivals Barcelona and Atlético Madrid who are set to face each other on Sunday. Ancelotti’s players showed resilience, demonstrating their title aspirations as they look to retain the championship.

Next up for Madrid is a crucial matchup against Atlético in the UEFA Champions League, where they will aim to continue their successful run.