Real Madrid secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Villarreal on March 15, 2024, thanks to a second-half goal and a late penalty from Kylian Mbappe. This win propelled Los Blancos to the top of LaLiga, taking advantage of Barcelona‘s absence from action until Sunday. Villarreal, struggling with form, suffered their third consecutive defeat.
The match began quietly, with both teams testing each other’s defenses. Villarreal made an early attempt to unsettle Real Madrid in the 14th minute. A swift counter-attack saw Alfonso Pedraza deliver a cross that Tajon Buchanan narrowly missed at the far post. The game paused shortly after when Villarreal defender Juan Foyth went down injured, leading to his substitution for Rafa Marín.
Real Madrid, fresh off a dominant 6-1 win against Monaco in the Champions League, began to find their rhythm. Arda Güler attempted a curling shot from 20 yards, but it sailed over the crossbar. A promising combination between Mbappe and Vinícius Júnior followed, with Mbappe firing a shot straight at Villarreal’s goalkeeper Luiz Júnior.
As the first half drew to a close, Villarreal came close to taking the lead. A low strike from Senegal midfielder Papa Gueye curled off-target, leaving the match scoreless at halftime.
Real Madrid broke the deadlock shortly after the restart. In the 47th minute, Vinícius Júnior made an explosive run down the left, cutting into the area. His deflected pass fell to Mbappe, who fired the ball into the net for his 20th LaLiga goal of the season.
Villarreal attempted to respond, with captain Gerard Moreno shooting over the bar from a well-placed free-kick by Dani Parejo in the 62nd minute. Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was finally called into action with 18 minutes remaining, comfortably saving a shot from Alberto Moleiro.
Villarreal fans believed they had a case for a penalty kick after a slip by Raúl Asencio, but the incident occurred outside the penalty area. As the match approached its conclusion, Villarreal continued to press for an equalizer but struggled to find the target.
In the second minute of stoppage time, Mbappe was fouled by Pedraza, leading to a penalty kick. With confidence, Mbappe executed a cheeky Panenka shot that floated into the net as Luiz Júnior dived to his right, sealing the victory for Real Madrid.
This match positions Real Madrid two points clear of their closest rival, Barcelona, as the LaLiga title race intensifies. Villarreal’s challenges deepen with another loss, leaving them to regroup ahead of their next fixture.
