Real Madrid moved top of LaLiga after Kylian Mbappé‘s goal early in the second half and his late penalty secured a 2-0 win at Villarreal.
With Barcelona not set to play until Sunday, Los Blancos took full advantage to see off a below-par Villarreal, who slipped to a third straight defeat.
Following a low-key first half, Mbappé broke the deadlock in the 47th minute after Vinícius Júnior had surged into the box and wrapped things up from the spot in stoppage time to send Alvaro Arbeloa’s side two points clear of their rivals.
Villarreal — beaten at home by Ajax in the Champions League on Tuesday night — made a positive start and cut Real Madrid open with a break down the left in the 14th minute.
Alfonso Pedraza whipped a ball across the face of goal, which Tajon Buchanan could just not direct back on target at the far post.
There was a stoppage after Villarreal defender Juan Foyth went down in the penalty area, clutching the back of his left ankle after he tried to push off, and had to be replaced by Rafa Marín.
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Real Madrid — who had thrashed Monaco 6-1 in their midweek Champions League tie — eventually threatened when Arda Güler curled a 20-yard effort over.
Mbappé then combined with Vinícius before sending a drive straight at Villarreal keeper Luiz Júnior.
Jude Bellingham stole possession before playing in the Brazilian, whose shot on the turn from the edge of the box flew just wide.
Villarreal remained dangerous on the counter and went close to breaking the deadlock in stoppage time at the end of the first half when a low strike from Senegal midfielder Papa Gueye curled just off target.
Real Madrid swept into the lead soon after the restart.
Vinícius kept the ball in on the left touchline before darting across into the area and his cutback bounced off Gueye and the loose ball was fired in by Mbappé for his 20th LaLiga goal.
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Villarreal captain Gerard Moreno fired over after being picked out in the centre of the penalty area by a well-worked free-kick from Dani Parejo in the 62nd minute.
Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois was finally called to make a save with 18 minutes left when he comfortably collected Alberto Moleiro’s shot.
Bellingham tested Luiz Júnior again before Villarreal fans wanted a penalty for handball after a slip by Raúl Asencio, but he was outside the area.
In the second minute of added time, Mbappé was tripped by Pedraza and took the spot-kick himself, confidently clipping home a Panenka finish as Luiz Júniorr dived to his right.
