Real Madrid rebounded from its first loss in nearly 10 months by beating Villarreal 2-0 at the possible cost of injured right back Dani Carvajal in LaLiga on Saturday (Oct 5). Federico Valverde and Vinicius Junior scored for the defending champions four days after they lost at Lille 1-0 in the Champions League to halt a 36-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Madrid remains unbeaten in 41 consecutive Spanish league games. Beating third-placed Villarreal gave Madrid the same 21 points as FC Barcelona, which visits Alaves on Sunday. Carvajal was hurt in second-half stoppage time at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, going down in pain after kicking the leg of an opponent. He appeared to make a gesture showing something snapped in his leg. The Spain international was crying when he was carried off the field on a stretcher.
Dani Carvajal was taken off on a stretcher in added time as Real Madrid's unbeaten start to the LaLiga season continued with victory over Villarreal at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. The Spain right-back was left screaming in agony, after seemingly over-extending his knee in a collision with Yeremy Pino, and was carried off the pitch in tears.
"It seems a serious knee injury, it will be looked at in the coming hours," Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti told reporters. "The players are sad, worried, because something happened that happens a lot, because of the calendar, and it happened to a very, very important player for us."
Federico Valverde struck for Real from the edge of the box and found the bottom left corner in the 14th minute, deflecting off the unfortunate Alex Baena. Moments later, Villarreal almost equalised when Nicolas Pepe's header clipped the crossbar from Baena's cross, before Thierno Barry headed over the bar.
Vinicius Junior made sure of the victory with 17 minutes left to play, launching a fierce effort from long-range into the top corner. Madrid had further chances to increase their lead but Antonio Rudiger sent a header over the bar and England international Jude Bellingham's long-range effort sailed wide of the post.
Villarreal thought they had a penalty five minutes after the break when Aurelien Tchouameni fouled Barry, but the French forward was adjudged to be offside. Baena's 25-yard free-kick grazed the side-netting, with home goalkeeper Andriy Lunin diving to his left, as the away side continued to probe but ultimately failed to find a way back into the game.
Ancelotti's side are now undefeated in 41 LaLiga matches (W30 D11), the second best unbeaten streak by a team in the entire history of the competition. Rivals FC Barcelona are the only side to better that in 2018, with a 43-game unbeaten league run (W34 D9).
The result means Madrid are level on points with Barca at the top of the table, however Hansi Flick's side will go three points clear if they win at Alaves on Sunday (Oct 6).
