La Liga 2024/25: Real Madrid bounces back with a victory but faces setback as Carvajal suffers ACL injury

Real Madrid overcame their first defeat since January with a 2-0 victory against Villarreal in La Liga, thanks to goals from Fede Valverde and Vinicius Junior. Despite a recent loss in the Champions League to Lille, Los Blancos remain undefeated in the Spanish top flight. The win sees them draw level with league leaders Barcelona, who are set to face Alaves on Sunday.

Valverde's deflected effort and a rocket from Vinicius allowed Madrid to put a four-point gap between them and their third-placed opponents, who battled well but came up fractionally short in the capital.

Madrid's victory was marred by a late injury to defender Dani Carvajal, who had to be taken off on a stretcher.

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"It seems a serious knee injury, it will be looked at in the coming hours," Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti told reporters. "The players are sad, worried, because something happened that happens a lot, because of the (busy) calendar, and it happened to a very, very important player for us."

Ancelotti said Vinicius would also have medical tests after being taken off late on with discomfort in his shoulder and neck.

The Italian coach started Kylian Mbappe after the French striker had recovered from a thigh problem.

The former Paris Saint-Germain striker could only appear from the bench in Madrid's disappointing midweek display.

Mbappe, who France have not selected for upcoming Nations League fixtures, was quiet at the Santiago Bernabeu as his team ground out victory with a determined, rather than inspiring, performance.

Madrid are still missing German midfielder Toni Kroos, although on this occasion he was watching on from a box.

Mbappe sent an early volley off-target from Luka Modric's corner but it was midfield powerhouse Valverde who broke the deadlock after 14 minutes.

The Uruguayan's drive from distance deflected off Villarreal playmaker Alex Baena and arced beyond the reach of goalkeeper Diego Conde.

The visitors, enjoying a strong start to the season under coach Marcelino Garcia Toral, came close when Nicolas Pepe's header clipped the top of the crossbar.

Mbappe had one further chance, bursting into the area with his electric pace, but goalkeeper Conde managed to dispossess him with an outstretched leg.

Villarreal appealed for a penalty early in the second half when Aurelien Tchouameni, playing at centre-back, pulled down Barry, but the French striker was offside.

Baena hit the side-netting of Andriy Lunin's goal with a free-kick, nearly catching out the Ukrainian goalkeeper standing in for the injured Thibaut Courtois.

Vinicius flashed a shot narrowly wide, before his strike partner Mbappe was replaced with 20 minutes to go by Rodrygo Goes.

Brazil striker Vinicius, who is hoping to win a first Ballon d'Or later in October, netted the second with a superb effort from outside the area, which ripped into the top corner.

In stoppage time, Spanish right-back Carvajal suffered an injury while attempting to clear the ball under pressure from Yeremi Pino.

"In the end, the result's a less important thing -- Dani's health is what matters," Valverde told Real Madrid TV. "The game was fine, it was neither very good or bad, it was what we had to do to win, two goals was enough."

Villarreal defender Raul Albiol was also concerned about Carvajal.

"It looked bad... let's hope it's the least (damage) possible, because we all know how important he is for Real Madrid and Spanish football," he said.

The centre-back said Madrid were efficient with their finishing and that made the difference.

"They have a lot of attacking punch and more or less with three chances they had two goals," he said.

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