Diomande seals Madrid win as Vinicius sees red against Villarreal

Yan Diomande scored his first Real Madrid goal to secure a 1-0 home win over Villarreal on Saturday, despite a late red card for Vinicius Junior. The result kept Jose Mourinho’s side six points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona and moved them provisionally into third place.

Vinicius, who came on as a substitute, thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead. Instead, his goal was disallowed and he was sent off after a VAR review showed he had pulled the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba in the build-up.

Diomande breaks the deadlock

Kylian Mbappe started for Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu after a knee problem suffered while playing for France during the international break. He was Madrid’s main attacking threat in a quiet first half, striking the post from Alvaro Carreras’s lay-off and later drawing a save from Peter Gulacsi.

Madrid gave Villarreal few clear chances but struggled to create much themselves. Villarreal gained a foothold after Madrid’s early pressure, and some home supporters whistled at the half-time break.

Diomande gave them reason to celebrate after the interval. Federico Valverde played in the winger, who finished low into the far corner for his first Madrid goal since arriving in the summer.

VAR turns Vinicius goal into a red card

Mourinho had started Vinicius on the bench following the winger’s trips to Australia and India with Brazil during the international break. After coming on, Vinicius put the ball in the net from Jude Bellingham’s cut-back, but referee Isidro Diaz de Mera was called to review the incident involving Saliba.

The referee dismissed Vinicius and ruled out the goal, leaving Madrid to protect a one-goal lead with 10 men. Thibaut Courtois, who had already made a couple of saves in the second half, then produced an acrobatic stop to deny Carlos Romero.

Mbappe was also denied again by Gulacsi, but Madrid held on for the three points.

Madrid remain in the title chase

Barcelona lead La Liga after beating Getafe 3-0. Atletico Madrid are second, five points behind the leaders, following their 2-1 win over Alaves.

Madrid’s victory kept them within six points of Barcelona, although their position in third was provisional. Diomande’s goal proved decisive on a night when Madrid had to finish the match without Vinicius.