“ Special ” but “ exhausted ”, Real Madrid beat Villarreal with Mbappe Brace, the classification of the liga – Firstpost

The accumulation of Kylian Mbappe helped Real Madrid Climb at the top of the Liga with a 2-1 victory in Villarreal on Saturday despite the complaints of coach Carlo Ancelotti that his team was “exhausted”. Los Blancheos moved three points from his Rivaux Barcelona, ​​after playing two additional games, the Catalans visiting third place in Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a key confrontation of the Spanish title.

Madrid was unhappy that the match took place less than 72 hours after their victory in the Champions League in penalties against Atletico on Wednesday.

“The team has something special, character, commitment,” said Ancelotti to journalists, insisting that Madrid refuses to play without “72 hours of rest” between the matches recommended by the fifa world football leader.

However, despite their complaints, they had enough in the reservoir to beat their opponents, fifth, at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

“We continued to go to the physical level, especially in the second half, the team was exhausted, but it was to be expected,” said Ancelotti.

“It is a victory that says a lot about this team and the ability of this team.”

Ancelotti started with Vinicius Junior on the bench after the emptying victory against Atletico in the last 16.

Villarreal started strongly and Thibaut Courtois went down to his right to kick Ayoze Perez around the post.

From the resulting corner, Villarreal took the lead, the bouncing ball at Juan Foyth, who broke at close range.

The Ancelotti team responded quickly, with the leveling of MBAPPE after 17 minutes.

Brahim Diaz’s attempt was saved by Diego Conde, but the French striker sent the rebound with a minimum of agitation.

Soon, Mbappe had his second, helping to spread the ball to the right, then finishing with Aplomb after Lucas Vazquez found it in the middle of the box.

It was the 20th goal of the Mbappe League of the season, putting one behind the top scorer, Robert Lewandowski in Barcelona.

The content of their Madrid advance absorbed Villarreal pressure in the rest of the first half, with courtes who save Nicolas Pepe well.

Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral sent Thierno Barry for Pepe to the break, while the yellow submarine seemed to avoid a first home liga defeat by Madrid since 2017.

Foyth may have leveled at the start of the second half, but voted on the bar when it is well placed.

‘A football fan’

Ancelotti sent Vinicius and Luka Modric to try to help Madrid put the game in bed and have regained control of enterprising hosts.

Condé saved from Fede Valverde and at the other end, Perez got closer with a net turn and a powerful effort that stole just above the crossbar of Courtois, which was as close as its side came to a leveler.

“The beginning was not the best, but it is normal with little rest that it is difficult on the legs, but then we returned quickly, we defended well, we were very tired but the commitment we showed was important,” said Courtois on Real Madrid television.

Now Ancelotti and its side can sit and watch the two teams below them detach from the Metropolitano stadium.

“For us, it was important to win today, I will obviously watch it, because it will be a very entertaining game,” said Ancelotti.

“Tomorrow, I will be a football fan, and nothing more.”

The earlier Mallorca beat Espanyol 2-1 with a late Vedat Muriqi penalty, the target man making amends after scoring a clean goal and missed another kick.

Celta Vigo beat at the bottom of the Valladolid 1-0 table, inflicting his 20th defeat of the season.