La Liga: Madrid edge Villarreal 1-0 as Diomande scores first goal

Real Madrid winger Yan Diomande

Real Madrid defeated Villarreal 1-0 in their La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, 2026.

Yan Diomande scored the only goal of the game in the 62nd minute, marking his first for the club.

The Ivorian winger finished a pass from Federico Valverde.

The goal was initially ruled out for offside but was awarded after a VAR review.

Vinícius Júnior, who came on as a second-half substitute, appeared to make it 2-0 around the 71st minute after a move involving Jude Bellingham.

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However, VAR disallowed the goal after reviewing footage that showed Vinícius pulling the hair of Villarreal midfielder Nathan Saliba during the build-up.

The referee then showed Vinícius a straight red card for violent conduct.

Real Madrid, managed by José Mourinho, played the final stages with 10 men but held on for the victory. Diomande was later substituted as the team protected their lead.

The result gives Real Madrid three points in the eighth round of the 2026/27 La Liga season.

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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