MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 10: Yan Diomande of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Real Madrid and Villarreal CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 10, 2026 in Madrid, Spain.
(Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images) Getty ImagesReal Madrid 1-0 Villarreal (Diomande).
After a very long international break, Real Madrid were straight back into action against Villarreal in La Liga - and Yan Diomande was given a chance form the start.
Real Madrid buckled in for a tough closing stage, but fortunately the away side were not able to muster up enough to challenge the result.
1-0 to Real Madrid at full-time.
MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 10: Yan Diomande of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports 2026/27 match between Real Madrid and Villarreal CF at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 10, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Getty Images) Getty Images
Real Madrid 1-0 Villarreal (Diomande). A hard fought victory with ten men... This is the immediate reaction. Still to come: Player ratings, interviews and a podcast.
After a very long international break, Real Madrid were straight back into action against Villarreal in La Liga - and Yan Diomande was given a chance form the start. Trent Alexander-Arnold was also in the line-up, deployed behind Yan - as Fede Valverde captained the team.
Kylian Mbappé hit the post early, triggering the excitement of fans eager to see some action - but that was pretty much all the would get during the first-half (other than Arda Güler coming close at the end). A slow reintroduction to club football. 0-0 at the break.
The second-half was not much better, but Yan Diomande did grab his first goal for the club after a VAR review sided with Los Blancos. Vinícius Júnior looked to do the same, but VAR wasn’t having any of that, opting to send the Brazilian off instead for a foul made before the goal. Real Madrid buckled in for a tough closing stage, but fortunately the away side were not able to muster up enough to challenge the result. 1-0 to Real Madrid at full-time. Thoughts?
