Mbappé Shines as Real Madrid Secure Three Points at Villarreal

By Francis Onyach - Reporter

Kenya, 25 January 2026 - Real Madrid continued their strong La Liga campaign with a confident 2-0 victory over Villarreal at the Estadio de la Cerámica, powered by a stunning display from Kylian Mbappé.

The French star scored both goals in the second half to secure all three points and propel Los Blancos to the top of the league standings.

The match was closely contested in the opening stages, with both sides probing each other’s defences but neither able to break the deadlock before halftime. Real Madrid looked patient and composed, building their play through midfield and trying to unlock Villarreal’s disciplined defensive shape.

After the break, Madrid found the breakthrough they needed. Mbappé broke the stalemate shortly after the restart, finishing neatly following a dangerous attack and a well-timed pass inside the box. His goal sparked confidence in the visitors and put pressure on the home side.

As the game wore on, Villarreal pushed forward in search of an equaliser, but Real Madrid’s defence stood firm. In stoppage time, Mbappé’s influence was felt again when he won a penalty and calmly converted it, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a Panenka to seal the win for the visitors. The French, who celebrated the goal with Brahim Diaz, later revealed that he had dedicated the goal to him, after losing a similar attempt in the AFCON final with Morocco against Senegal.

This performance underlines Mbappé’s importance to Real Madrid’s title hopes. The French international has been in sensational form this season, regularly scoring and creating goals for his team. His partnership with teammates like Vinícius Júnior has given Madrid a cutting edge in attack that few sides in Spain can match.

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Villarreal showed grit and tactical discipline but ultimately could not match the quality of their opponents. Their defence was tested throughout the match, especially after trailing, and the Yellow Submarine struggled to find clear chances against a well-organised Real Madrid backline.

Mbappé’s performance will be talked about for days, as his goals not only secured victory but also demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion in big matches.

Real Madrid now sit at the top of La Liga with momentum on their side, while Villarreal will look to bounce back in their next fixture. This win keeps Madrid firmly in the title race and reinforces Mbappé’s status as one of the league’s most impactful forwards.