Real Madrid vs Villarreal player ratings — Diomande scores winner for Mourinho’s side as Vinicius sees red

Despite Madrid’s victory, Vinicius’s red card left a bitter taste for Los Blancos, with the winger running the risk of a potential ban which could keep him out of the Clasico on October 25.

Updated : Oct 11, 2026 08:44 IST , MADRID - 3 MINS READ

Yan Diomande scored his first goal for Real Madrid in Saturday’s 1-0 La Liga win over Villarreal in Madrid. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Yan Diomande earned Real Madrid a tight 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday to keep it six points behind La Liga leader Barcelona, even though winger Vinicius Junior was sent off for hair-pulling.

Brazil international Vinicius, on as a substitute, scored but his goal was disallowed and then he was dismissed after a VAR review showed he pulled the hair of Villarreal’s Nathan Saliba.

Jose Mourinho’s Madrid battled through the final stages with 10 men but held on to its slender lead earned by 19-year-old winger Diomande to go provisionally third.

Despite Madrid’s victory, Vinicius’s red card left a bitter taste for Los Blancos, with the winger running the risk of a potential ban which could keep him out of the Clasico on October 25.

“I don’t know what’s going on with the referees, with this red card, I don’t understand, but the most important thing is the victory,” said Madrid midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni.

Striker Kylian Mbappe was fit to start the match for Madrid at their Santiago Bernabeu stadium after suffering a knee problem playing for France during the international break.

Mourinho started with out-of-form winger Vinicius on the bench, following his trips to Australia and India with Brazil during the international break.

Mbappe struck the post from Alvaro Carreras’s lay-off as Madrid pushed Villarreal back early on.

Villarreal soon gained a foothold and restricted Madrid’s opportunities, until Mbappe forced a good save from Peter Gulacsi.

There was some more mild whistling for Madrid’s display from their fans at half-time, but soon they were able to celebrate summer arrival Diomande’s first goal for the club.

The Ivorian winger, Madrid’s record 140-million-euro (USD 157 million) signing, produced a sharp low finish into the far corner after good work from Federico Valverde to play him in.

Inter Miami vs DC United player ratings

Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois (8.3/10), Trent Alexander-Arnold (7.0/10), Ibrahima Konate (7.3/10), Antonio Rudiger (7.8/10), Alvaro Carreras (7.1/10), Federico Valverde (8.2/10), Aurelien Tchouameni (7.2/10), Arda Guler (6.9/10), Jude Bellingham (6.7/10), Yan Diomande (8.1/10), Kylian Mbappe (7.5/10)

Subs: Marc Cucurella (7.4/10), Vinicius Jr. (5.3/10), Eduardo Camavinga (6.3/10), Denzel Dumfries (No rating)

Villarreal: Peter Gulacsi (6.9/10), Alex Freeman (8.4/10), Pau Navarro (6.7/10), Renato Veiga (6.9/10), Sergi Cardona (6.1/10), Juan Foyth (6.2/10), Pape Gueye (7.1/10), Ilias Akhomach (6.2/10), Santi Comesana (6.1/10), Alberto Moleiro (6.8/10), Ayoze Perez (6.5/10)

Subs: Carlos Romero (6.9/10), Nathan Saliba (6.1/10), Georges Mikautadze (6.3/10), Gerard Moreno (6.1/10), Nizar El Jmili (No rating)