La Liga First Half: Valverde Scores with a Long-range Shot, Mbappe Misses a Clear-cut Chance, Real Madrid vs Villarreal

Key Events

In the 14th minute, Modric played a tactical corner kick, Bellingham let it pass cleverly, and Valverde struck from outside the box, shooting from 23 meters out. The ball hit Baena and took a strange trajectory, rapidly dropping into the net, breaking the deadlock for Real Madrid, 1-0!

Match Report

At 3:00 AM on October 6th, in the 9th round of the 24/25 La Liga season, Real Madrid hosted Villarreal at the Bernabeu Stadium.

In the 4th minute of the first half, Modric’s corner kick was met by Mbappe who volleyed it at the back post, but the ball went over the crossbar.

In the 9th minute, Gaya’s long pass found Pepe who returned it with an inverted triangle pass, but Baena’s shot went wide, though the referee had flagged for offside earlier.

In the 16th minute, Baena crossed from the left, Pepe headed it, hitting the crossbar and bouncing out, Real Madrid narrowly escaped conceding.

In the 23rd minute, Modric passed with the outside of his foot, Mbappe turned and accelerated to the baseline, his cross was cleared, Vinicius cut inside from outside the box and shot high.

In the 30th minute, Vinicius nutmegged Femenias, then passed with an inverted triangle, but Costa intercepted it first.

Vinicius attacked again immediately, accelerating down the left and crossing, the ball slid past the goal.

In the 34th minute, Modric’s set-piece cross found Rudiger who headed it, but it went over the crossbar again.

In the 37th minute, Mbappe cut inside from the left and shot, which was blocked, he then passed it centrally, Valverde returned it, and Bellingham shot, missing the left post.

In the 38th minute, Real Madrid launched a quick counterattack, Vinicius passed directly into the penalty area, Mbappe misjudged the power slightly, and his one-on-one chance was thwarted by Conde.

The first half ended with Real Madrid temporarily leading Villarreal 1-0.

Player Lineups

Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-1-2):

13-Lunin; 2-Carvajal; 22-Rudiger; 23-Mendy; 14-Chuameni; 10-Modric; 8-Valverde; 6-Kamavenga; 5-Bellingham; 9-Mbappe; 7-Vinicius;

Substitutes: 34-Meister; 26-Gonzalez; 18-Vallejo; 3-Militao; 20-Garcia; 31-Navieros; 17-Vazquez; 19-Ceballos; 15-Guler; 11-Rodrigo; 16-Endrick;

Villarreal starting lineup (4-4-2):

13-Conde; 3-Albiol; 17-Femenias; 2-Costa; 23-Cadona; 10-Parejo; 14-Comesaña; 18-Gaya; 16-Baena; 19-Pepe; 15-Barre;

Substitutes: 1-Jonny; 12-Bernat; 4-Bailly; 26-Navarro; 21-Pino; 20-Traz; 11-Ahomach; 33-Cabanillas;