La Liga 2024/25: Real Madrid Back to Winning Ways, Carvajal Suffers ACL Injury

Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior’s goals were crucial in Real Madrid’s 2-0 victory over Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday, helping them recover from their first defeat since January. This loss came in the Champions League against Lille, but Real Madrid remains unbeaten in the Spanish league and has now caught up with Barcelona in the standings, just before Barcelona’s match against Alaves.

Valverde’s goal came from a deflected shot, while Vinicius scored with a spectacular long-range strike, creating a four-point lead over Villarreal, who are in third place. Despite a strong effort from Villarreal, they narrowly missed securing a point in Madrid.

The win was somewhat overshadowed by an injury to Real Madrid’s defender Dani Carvajal, who was stretchered off due to a serious knee injury. Coach Carlo Ancelotti expressed concern, highlighting the intense schedule as a contributing factor and noting the importance of Carvajal to the team. Ancelotti also mentioned that Vinicius would undergo medical evaluation after experiencing some discomfort in his shoulder and neck.

Kylian Mbappe, recently recovered from a thigh injury, started the game after only making a bench appearance in the midweek Champions League game. Mbappe’s return was quiet, and he didn’t make a significant impact during the match.

Real Madrid played without Toni Kroos, who was present but not in the lineup. The team’s performance was more about determination than flair, securing the win through efficient finishing rather than dominance.

The match saw several notable moments, including a deflected long shot from Valverde that gave Madrid the lead and a close call for Villarreal when Nicolas Pepe’s header hit the crossbar. Villarreal had other opportunities, including a potential penalty situation that was nullified by an offside call, and a free-kick that nearly surprised substitute goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

Vinicius later secured the win with a stunning goal from outside the box, adding to his accolades as he eyes the Ballon d’Or. The match ended on a concerning note for Madrid with Carvajal’s injury during stoppage time, leading to serious concerns from both teams about his condition.

Villarreal’s defender Raul Albiol remarked on the efficiency of Madrid’s attack, noting that Madrid capitalized on their few chances effectively, which was key to their victory.