Real Madrid beat Villarreal 3–1 in a spirited La Liga clash at the Bernabéu. Vinícius Jr, Mbappé & team bounce back in style. Full recap, lineup & stats.
Real Madrid vs Villarreal – One-line snapshot
Real Madrid bounced back from their derby mauling by defeating Villarreal 3–1 at the Santiago Bernabéu — Vinícius Jr converted a penalty, Mbappé sealed the win, and Real reestablished momentum in La Liga.
The five most essential facts (quick summary)
- Final score: Real Madrid 3–1 Villarreal
- Scorers & moments: Vinícius Jr opened via deflected shot, then scored from a penalty; Villarreal pulled one back before being reduced to 10 men; Mbappé added the third.
- Lineups & returns: Real Madrid confirmed a starting XI including Courtois, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras, Valverde, Ceballos, Güler, Mastantuono, Vinícius and Mbappé.
- Defensive issues & injuries: Real remain thin in defense — Carvajal is out with a calf injury, Militao omitted from Kazakhstan trip, Rüdiger and Alexander-Arnold also unavailable.
- Head-to-head & stats: Historically, Real have dominated Villarreal in La Liga: in 33 head-to-head matches, Madrid have 17 wins, Villarreal 5, and 11 draws. (FootyStats)
Match buildup & context
Recent form & imperatives
Real Madrid had just suffered a humbling 5–2 defeat to Atlético in the derby, which exposed defensive frailties and disrupted momentum. This Villarreal match was a chance for redemption and to steady the ship, especially with the international break approaching. Villarreal, meanwhile, have had a solid run and were only a few points behind Madrid in the table, threatening to make this a more difficult test than many expected. (Morocco World News)
Injury & squad news
Real’s injury list is significant. Captain Dani Carvajal is out with a calf injury and expected to miss about four weeks. (Reuters) Éder Militão also withdrew from the Champions League trip to Kazakhstan to recover from a foot issue. (Diario AS) Meanwhile, Real’s fullbacks — Trent Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, Mendy — remain unavailable.
Villarreal have their own absences — Juan Foyth, Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, Ayoze Pérez, Gerard Moreno, and possibly Pau Cabanes are among those doubtful or injured.
Tactical stakes
This match was widely viewed as a litmus test: Could Real bounce back and maintain pressure on Barça? Could Villarreal upset Real at a moment when Madrid’s defense is patchy? It also tested Real’s depth under Xabi Alonso, and whether Güler, Mastantuono, and Ceballos could help bridge gaps in midfield and defense.
Lineups & Formation (Real Madrid vs Villarreal CF)
Real Madrid probable & confirmed XI
According to ManagingMadrid, Real’s confirmed starting XI included: Courtois; Militao, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Ceballos; Güler, Mastantuono; Vinícius Jr, Mbappé.
ManagingMadrid also notes that Valverde, Carreras, and Militao returned to the squad after missing previous games.
FotMob’s predicted formation lists:
4-2-3-1
Courtois
Raul Asencio, Militao, Huijsen, Carreras
Valverde, Tchouaméni
Mastantuono, Ceballos, Güler
Vinícius Jr, Mbappé
Key omissions: Carvajal, Rüdiger, Mendy, Alexander-Arnold
Villarreal likely XI
FotMob predicts a 4-4-2:
Júnior; Mouriño, Marin, Renato Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Comesaña, Thomas, Pape Guèye; Oluwaseyi, Moleiro (FotMob)
Sports Illustrated, in their preview, expects players like Mikautadze, Pépé to feature up top.
Villarreal are hampered by multiple injuries, which may force Marcelino to adjust tactics.
Tactical notes
- Real may deploy a double pivot (Tchouaméni + Ceballos) to shield the fragile backline and to allow Güler/Mastantuono to press forward.
- Villarreal’s likely 4-4-2 can switch to a 4-2-3-1 in attack, pushing Moleiro or Pépé into more central roles.
- With fullbacks injured, Real may lean on inverted wide midfielders or push Carreras aggressively.
- Madrid’s space behind Villarreal’s wide midfield could be exploited by overlapping runs from Güler or Valverde.
Match timeline & key moments (Real Madrid vs Villarreal CF timeline)
Below is a narrative timeline combining multiple match reports (Vavel, ManagingMadrid, etc.).
First Half
- 0′ Kickoff: Match begins at Santiago Bernabéu.
- ~7′: Early probing by Real — Mbappé and Güler combine, but Villarreal line holds.
- 12′: Rough dribble attack from Mbappé → shot over the bar.
- 30′: Tchouaméni booked for a foul on Moleiro.
- 36′: Real presses high; a through ball leads to a near chance for Villarreal’s Oluwaseyi, but Courtois saves.
- Half ends 0–0: Despite pressure, no breakthrough in the first half.
Second Half
- 47′ Goal by Vinícius Jr: Madrid opens the scoring via a deflected shot (some reports call it “deflected” leading to slight fortune) to make it 1–0.
- ~60′ Penalty to Real: After a foul in the box, Real gets a spot kick. Vinícius converts it to make it 2–0.
- Villarreal pulled one back: In response, Villarreal scored to reduce the deficit.
- Villarreal sent off (second yellow): Having conceded, Villarreal had a player sent off, reducing them to 10 men.
- Late goal by Mbappé: In numbers, Madrid sealed the match with a composed finish from Mbappé to make it 3–1.
- Full time: Real Madrid 3–1 Villarreal.
Tactical & performance analysis
What Madrid got right
- Clinical finishing in big moments: Rather than dominate possession endlessly, Madrid seized pivotal moments via deflected shot, penalty and a composed third.
- Operation under pressure: When Villarreal applied periods of pressure, Madrid’s midfield and defense held discipline until they could counter.
- Use of Mbappé & Vinícius combo: The front duo proved to be a problem for Villarreal’s backline — fast interplay and runs behind.
- Defensive resilience with limited resources: Despite missing many defenders, Real’s center backs and Huijsen particularly delivered under duress.
Where Real were vulnerable
- Pace behind backline: Villarreal threatened with through balls and runs (e.g., Oluwaseyi’s chance in first half).
- Midfield transitions: Occasionally Madrid’s midfield got caught in transition — Villarreal managed to counterattack when Madrid pushed too aggressively.
- Set-piece & aerial areas: Madrid allowed some aerial crosses into dangerous zones that Villarreal exploited partially.
Villarreal’s strengths & where they failed
- Compact shape early: Villarreal started well with a tight defensive block that frustrated Madrid’s early attacks.
- Response after conceding: The goal they scored showed they can exploit midfield gaps and were not passive even down a goal.
- Discipline issues: The red card (second yellow) undermined their ability to compete for full 90 minutes.
- Lack of depth / injuries: With several absentees, Villarreal struggled to maintain defensive composure as Madrid forced turnovers and transitions.
Player spotlights
Vinícius Jr (Real Madrid)
Scored both the opening goal (deflected) and converted the penalty to make it 2–0. Showed composure and hunger, and consistently troubled Villarreal’s defenders with his dribbling and positioning.
Kylian Mbappé
Closed the match by scoring the third, calm finish. His movement and pairing with Vini Jr were effective, and he remained a constant threat.
Huijsen & Militao
Given the defensive shortages, both stood out by handling pressure well. Huijsen in particular showed maturity beyond his years in positioning and clearances. (Managing Madrid)
Villarreal’s key men
- Oluwaseyi: Had clear chances, capitalizing on defensive hesitations.
- Mikautadze / Moleiro: Used for attacking flair and combinations, especially in second half when they needed to push forward.
Stats, H2H & historical context
Head-to-head & stats
- H2H (Real vs Villarreal): In the prior 33 La Liga matchups, Real have 17 wins, Villarreal 5, and 11 draws. (FootyStats)
- Goals trends: Over 33 matches, 85% had Over 1.5 goals, 64% Over 2.5, and 70% both teams to score (BTTS).
- Recent Trends: According to Sports Illustrated, Villarreal have only twice beaten Real in last 16 meetings.
- Seasonal form: Villarreal started the season strong (winning 5 of first 7). Real, before their derby loss, had been consistent. (SI)
Match-specific stats
From live reports (Vavel, etc.):
- Shots on target, possession breakdowns, expected goals (xG) metrics favored Real in “big chance” segments. (VAVEL.com – Live Sports)
- Real converted high-leverage chances; Villarreal, while generating pressure, lacked clinical finishing.
- Red card (second yellow) reduced Villarreal’s stamina and opened space for Madrid’s third goal.
🏁 FT: @RealMadridEN 3-1 @VillarrealCFen
⚽️ 47′ @vinijr
⚽️ 69′ @vinijr (p)
⚽️ 73′ Mikautadze
⚽️ 81′ @KMbappe
👉 @emirates pic.twitter.com/odmhCUT8z7— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) October 4, 2025
Impact & implications
For Real Madrid
- Restoring confidence: After a heavy derby loss, this win allowed Real to assert control at home and regain belief.
- Momentum & morale: The result is timely heading into the international break and upcoming fixtures.
- Squad management test: With injury-hit defense, showing depth and resilience will matter for the season’s grind.
For Villarreal
- Tough lessons: Red card and inability to maintain pressure exposed depth issues.
- Still competitive: A goal and sustained phases of threat show potential — improvement in discipline and consistency needed.
- Injury strain: Absentees and fatigue might worsen if the season stretches long.
Viewing & broadcast info (where to watch Real Madrid vs Villarreal CF)
- In Spain: DAZN La Liga or Movistar LaLiga. (Typically DAZN carries home matches) (Managing Madrid)
- In the USA: ESPN Deportes or ESPN+ streaming. (Managing Madrid)
- Other markets: Disney+ (UK), various local rights holders in Latin America and Asia. (SI)
- Online: Official LaLiga streaming options, club channels for highlights post-match. (Managing Madrid)
If you’re outside a covered region, VPN + valid subscription sometimes work (check terms of service).