Real Madrid got an important victory this Saturday against Villarreal (2-0) in a match that could end up costing the Merengue team dearly after the blows received by Vinicius Junior and Dani Carvajal, the latter protagonist of an impressive display in the final minutes.
The defender had to leave the pitch at the Santiago Bernabeu on a stretcher after twisting his right knee in an attempt to clear a ball but hitting the back of Yeremy Pino’s thigh. The heartbreaking screams suggest the severity of the injury.
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While being treated on the pitch, in tears, the Real Madrid number 2 made a gesture with his hands as if to suggest a fracture, so we will have to wait for the relevant tests to determine the extent of the injury suffered by the Spaniard.
Shortly before, the Brazilian Vinicius Junior, who scored a great goal, also left the field of play after being substituted by the Turkish Arda Guller in the 79th minute, showing signs of pain in his shoulder, so the Merengue victory this Saturday could end with a rather negative balance.
Turning the page on the Champions League
Real Madrid started Saturday’s match against Villarreal in the ninth round of LaLiga with the aim of leaving behind the ghosts of their recent defeat against Lille (0-1) at home in the Champions League and it didn’t take long for them to take the lead.
With Toni Kroos in the stands of the Whites’s stadium as just another spectator, it was his pupil Fede Valverde who was in charge of opening the scoring with a spectacular long-distance shot after a corner kick from the left taken by Luka Modric (m.14).
The reigning LaLiga champions managed to keep the ‘Yellow Submarine’ at bay and it was not until the 73rd minute that they managed to extend their lead with another shot from outside the area, this time courtesy of Vinicius Junior, who sealed the victory with his third goal of the season in the Spanish competition.
With this result, Real Madrid now equals FC Barcelona on points at the top of the table, both with 21 points, but with the Catalan side playing their match of the round this Sunday away to Deportivo Alaves prior to what will be the FIFA double-date break.
Carlo Ancelotti’s team managed to take three valuable points at home but are still waiting to see what the outcome of this Saturday’s match will be, waiting to see the condition of both Vinicius Junior and especially Dani Carvajal.
Real Madrid are still unbeaten in the domestic campaign, going 41 games without defeat; they are two away from the mark of 43 that Barcelona set in 2018.
Villarreal (the last team to beat Los Blancos at the Santiago Bernabeu with a 3-2 win on April 8, 2023) remained in third place with 17 points.
The “Yellow Submarine” saw a streak of 23 league games scoring at least one goal under the command of coach Marcelino Garcia Toral come to an end.
Valverde’s opener was a relief for the hosts, who had been saved from going down after a poor finish from Baena minutes earlier, after finding themselves behind, they had very dangerous headers from Nicolas Pepe and Thierno Barry.
Kylian Mbappe had a chance to extend the lead in the first half, but was the victim of a great save by Conde who took the ball from him in a one-on-one.
French star Mbappe was replaced in the 70th minute, followed shortly after by Vinicius’s goal, playing as a centre forward.
