Real Madrid took the top spot in La Liga after beating Villarreal 2-0, moving ahead of Barcelona in the title race. Kylian Mbappe scored both goals, bringing his season tally to 21 in 19 league games – first with a close-range strike after the break, then a stoppage-time penalty.
The first half was quiet, with few chances for either team, but Madrid came alive in the second half. Mbappe tapped in a goal after Vinicius Junior’s cross was cleared, though Villarreal players argued the ball went out of play. Vinicius kept looking dangerous but hasn’t scored in 13 La Liga games.
Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno missed a big chance in the 62nd minute after a free-kick from Dani Parejo. Mbappe sealed the win with a penalty in stoppage time, a Panenka-style kick dedicated to teammate Brahim Diaz, who recently missed a similar penalty in the Africa Cup of Nations final.
Real had been four points behind Barcelona when the league restarted in January, but Barcelona’s surprise loss to Real Sociedad gave Madrid the chance to catch up. Under coach Alvaro Arbeloa, Madrid has now won three straight games, after he replaced Xabi Alonso following a shocking Copa del Rey loss to second-division Albacete.
Madrid leads by two points for now, but Barcelona can reclaim first place if they beat bottom-side Real Oviedo on Sunday.
