Real Madrid beat Villarreal 2-0 in matchday 21 of La Liga, with both goals scored by Kylian Mbappé. Argentine midfielder Franco Mastantuono started but was substituted and received mixed reviews from Spanish media for his performance. The match took place at Estadio de la Cerámica.
Real Madrid secured an important 2-0 win over Villarreal in La Liga matchday 21, played on January 24, 2026, at Estadio de la Cerámica in Villarreal. The goals came from Kylian Mbappé: the first at the 46th minute (1' of the second half) and the second from a penalty at the 93rd minute (48' of the second half). The team led by Álvaro Árbeloa controlled the game with 57% possession, 15 shots on target against Villarreal's 8, and 445 accurate passes compared to the opponents' 316.
Franco Mastantuono, the 17-year-old Argentine midfielder, started again for Real Madrid. He played until the 28th minute of the second half, when he was replaced by Gonzalo García. He received a yellow card at the 16th minute of the second half from referee César Soto Grado. Spanish media offered mixed opinions on his performance; some praised his potential, but others pointed to 'serious problems,' as analyzed in a TN report.
The first half ended 0-0, with Villarreal creating more shots on target (7 vs 5). There were early substitutions, such as Juan Foyth being replaced by Rafa Marín for Villarreal at the 23rd minute of the first half. No red cards were shown, only three yellows: one for Villarreal at the start (Foyth), another for Pau Navarro at the 57th, and Mastantuono's.
Following the victory, Real Madrid remains in second place in the standings, while Villarreal holds third. The Whites' next match is against Rayo Vallecano on February 1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.
