Yan Diomande earned Real Madrid a tight 1-0 victory over Villarreal on Saturday to keep them six points behind LaLiga leaders 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 their slender lead earned by 19-year-old winger Diomande to go provisionally third.
Champions Barca lead LaLiga after a 3-0 win over Getafe, while Atletico Madrid are five points behind in second after they edged Alaves 2-1.
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.
Madrid coach Mourinho complained bitterly about refereeing decisions which did not go his team’s way in the derby defeat by Atletico before the recent international break.
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.
There were a smattering of whistles for the superstar forward, with some fans believing he has been unprofessional in recent weeks, but also applause from other supporters.
Mbappe, a candidate for the Ballon d’Or trophy later this month, was Madrid’s most threatening player in the first half, although he had little competition.
Mourinho started with out-of-form winger Vinicius on the bench, following his trips to Australia and India with Brazil during the international break.
Madrid improved defensively, giving Villarreal few chances of note, but struggled to build much in attack themselves in a drab opening half.
MBAPPE FRUSTRATED
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 halftime, 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 ($157 million) signing, produced a sharp low finish into the far corner after good work from Federico Valverde to play him in.
Vinicius thought he had doubled Madrid’s lead after Jude Bellingham charged in down the left and cut the ball back for him.
However the winger’s joy turned to anger after referee Isidro Diaz de Mera was called to watch Vinicius’s hair pull on Saliba in the build-up by VAR and sent off the Brazilian, voiding his goal.
Madrid’s Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, who had made a couple of smart saves earlier in the half, produced an acrobatic stop to thwart Carlos Romero.
Mbappe was denied again by Hungarian goalkeeper Gulasci as the forward left the Bernabeu frustrated in his hunt for goals, although his team were able to clinch three important points to stay on Barca’s trail.
Barca extend perfect streak, Atletico scrape late win
Anthony Gordon scored his first goal for Barcelona as the Spanish champions extended their perfect start in LaLiga with a 3-0 win over Getafe on Saturday.
England winger Gordon opened the scoring in the second minute and Gabriel Jesus added another after half an hour for the league leaders, who have won every match they have played this season.
France defender Jules Kounde tucked home the third from Lamine Yamal’s cross to cap Barca’s solid win against Jose Bordalas’s side at Camp Nou.
Barca moved five points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid, who won 2-1 at Alaves earlier.
Barca were without their top scorer Raphinha, who sustained a hamstring problem during the international break with Brazil.
Flick replaced him with former Arsenal striker and Selecao compatriot Jesus and his side came roaring out of the blocks.
“Being at Barca is a dream… playing with these players is very easy too, everyone plays very well, always with the ball,” Jesus told DAZN after his first start and third goal for the club.
“That makes it easier for me as a striker, to have chances, and I’m ready to score the goals…
“(But) I hope Rafa can recover quickly, because of course the team misses him.”
Gordon, who has impressed since joining this summer, grabbed his first Barca goal with a low deflected effort after bundling his way past three players.
He was Barca’s brightest spark in the first half, continuing his fine goalscoring form for England in the recent Nations League matches.
Barca defender Eric Garcia forced a save from Getafe goalkeeper David Soria with a drive from distance as Flick’s side controlled the game.
Getafe defender Zaid Romero gave the ball away in his own box for Barca’s second, passing it straight to Jesus, who stroked into the bottom corner.
Soria denied Olmo before Yamal teed up Kounde for the third.
The defender, making a record 194th appearance for Barca for a French player, overtaking Eric Abidal, was on hand to turn home from close range from teenage star Yamal’s cross.
Barca, who also won their Champions League opener, have nine victories from nine matches across all competitions.
ROMERO WINNER
Cristian Romero’s header in the 87th minute earned Atletico Madrid a narrow win at 10-man Alaves.
Alejandro Grimaldo put Atletico in front before Lucas Boye equalised from the penalty spot for Alaves before the interval.
Angel Perez was sent off for the hosts in the second half and Romero’s header from Alex Baena’s cross late on took Atletico two points behind Barcelona before the champions face Getafe later Saturday.
Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid in a tense derby clash before the extended international break and were able to snatch a late winner to build on that momentum.
Grimaldo sent Atletico ahead in the 33rd minute with a cool finish after combining well with fellow summer arrival Jonathan David.
Alaves levelled just before the break from the penalty spot through Boye after Robin Le Normand fouled Toni Martinez.
Atletico were given a helping hand when Perez put in an ugly foul on substitute Julian Alvarez just after the hour mark and the Alaves winger was dismissed.
Alvarez, still regaining form and focus after trying to leave Atletico in the summer, hit the post from a free-kick as Diego Simeone’s side sought a winner.
Eventually Alex Baena produced a fine cross for former Tottenham defender Romero to nod home at the back post.
“It’s always important that the goal comes from wherever it comes, as long as it comes,” said Simeone.
