Newsletters
Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Villarreal in La Liga’s 21st week, with French star Kylian Mbappe scoring both goals, while Turkish midfielder Arda Guler stood out during his 80-minute starting appearance.
The win moved Madrid to the top of the La Liga table, two points ahead of rivals Barcelona, who are scheduled to host Real Oviedo on Sunday.
Mbappe’s brace brought his tally to 21 goals in the league and 34 across all competitions this season, while Guler’s performance reflected his growing influence within the first team setup.
Starting once again on the right side of midfield, 20-year-old Turkish star Arda Guler played 80 minutes and delivered a composed and technically assured performance.
He demonstrated accurate passing, controlled dribbling, and strong positional awareness before being substituted off for Brahim Diaz.
Guler created one notable chance in the first half, forcing a save from Villarreal goalkeeper Luiz Junior after some tidy footwork in the box. Moments later, he sent a follow-up effort over the bar at the end of a swift break.
After a goalless first half, Kylian Mbappe broke the deadlock just two minutes into the second period. Vinicius Junior’s low cross from the left flank was partially blocked, but Mbappe reacted quickly to squeeze home the opener from close range.
In second-half stoppage time, the French forward was brought down in the box by Alfonso Pedraza and converted the resulting penalty with a Panenka-style finish.
Saturday’s victory marked Madrid’s third consecutive win across all competitions since Arbeloa took over from Xabi Alonso just 10 days earlier. The team had suffered a surprise Copa del Rey exit to second-tier Albacete in its debut match, but has since shown signs of tactical improvement and renewed energy.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
