Real Madrid beat Villarreal 1-0 but Vinicius sent off for hair pull | Football
Real Madrid Edges Villarreal 1-0 Despite Vinicius Junior’s Red Card
Published on October 10, 2026
Real Madrid secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, maintaining their position six points behind La Liga leaders FC Barcelona. The match was marred by the dismissal of winger Vinicius Junior, who received a red card for pulling the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba.
Vinicius, who entered the match as a substitute, initially appeared to have doubled Madrid’s lead with a goal, but it was disallowed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review revealed the foul in the build-up. Referee Isidro Diaz de Mera subsequently issued a red card to the Brazilian forward.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Real Madrid managed to hold on to their slim lead, with Yan Diomande scoring the only goal of the match. The Ivorian winger, who joined the club for a record €140 million (approximately $157 million), netted his first goal for Madrid after Federico Valverde set him up with a precise pass.
Real Madrid’s defense effectively limited Villarreal’s scoring opportunities, while the team struggled to create strong chances in the first half. Kylian Mbappe, who started despite a recent knee injury sustained during international duty, was the most threatening player on the pitch. He struck the post early on and forced a solid save from Villarreal goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi later in the half.
The match saw mixed reactions from fans regarding Mbappe, who has faced criticism for his recent performances but also received applause for his efforts on the field.
Following the red card incident, Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois made crucial saves to maintain the lead, including a standout stop against Carlos Romero. Despite frustrations in front of goal, Mbappe and his teammates clinched three valuable points that keep them in the hunt for the title.
As of now, Barcelona remains at the top of La Liga after their 3-0 win against Getafe, while Atletico Madrid occupies second place, five points behind the leaders after edging past Alaves 2-1.
