Real Madrid player ratings vs Villarreal: Yan Diomande the unlikely hero as Vinicius Junior sees red in tense victory

Real Madrid secured a gritty 1-0 win over Villarreal thanks to a second-half strike from Yan Diomande. Despite a late red card for Vinicius Junior, Jose Mourinho's side held on to all three points at the Bernabeu.

Real Madrid navigated a tumultuous evening at the Estadio Bernabeu to secure a vital 1-0 victory over a resilient Villarreal. The first half was a tactical stalemate, with both sides struggling to break the defensive lines, resulting in a 0-0 scoreline at the interval. Madrid controlled 47% of the possession but found it difficult to convert their territorial dominance into clear-cut chances against a well-drilled Yellow Submarine block.