Villarreal vs. Real Madrid: Live Score, La Liga Result, Updates & Stats as Mbappé Brace Puts Los Blancos Ahead
By Dom Farrell
Live Coverage | March 15, 2025 | 12:09 AM GMT+5
Real Madrid emerged victorious from a grueling UEFA Champions League encounter at the Metropolitano, keeping their title defense alive. Now, Carlo Ancelotti’s side shifts focus back to La Liga, facing Villarreal in a pivotal clash that could significantly impact the title race.
With leaders Barcelona set to face Atletico Madrid on Sunday, Real Madrid had an opportunity to go three points clear at the top with a victory at Estadio de la Cerámica. Meanwhile, fifth-placed Villarreal had their sights set on European qualification, making this a crucial fixture for both teams.
Live Score & Key Events
| Team | 2nd Half | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|
| Villarreal | 1 | Foyth 7′ |
| Real Madrid | 2 | Mbappé 17′, 23′ |
Venue: Estadio de la Cerámica, Villarreal
Referee: Jesus Gil Manzano
Starting Lineups
Villarreal (4-4-2):
GK: Diego Conde
Defense: Juan Foyth, Willy Kambwala, Logan Costa, Sergi Cardona (Alfonso Pedraza)
Midfield: Tajon Buchanan (Yeremy Pino), Santi Comesana, Pape Gueye, Alex Baena
Forwards: Nicolas Pepe (Thierno Barry), Ayoze Perez
Real Madrid (4-3-3):
GK: Thibaut Courtois
Defense: Lucas Vazquez, Aurelien Tchouaméni, Raul Asencio, Fran Garcia
Midfield: Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Jude Bellingham
Forwards: Rodrygo, Brahim Diaz, Kylian Mbappé
Match Highlights & Live Updates
Second Half
79′ – Valverde takes a volley that deflects, but Conde reacts well to save. Villarreal appears to have lost some of their first-half momentum.
73′ – Bellingham muscles past Foyth and seems to enjoy the physical battle. Mbappé has a shot at a hat-trick, but Villarreal’s defense blocks his effort.
66′ – Penalty appeal! Valverde’s cutback strikes Logan Costa’s arm inside the box. After a quick VAR check, it’s ruled as a natural position—no penalty given.
65′ – Luka Modric replaces Rodrygo for Real Madrid, with Ancelotti looking to gain more midfield control. Pino and Pedraza come on for Villarreal.
62′ – Double substitution for Real Madrid. Antonio Rüdiger and Vinicius Jr. replace Asencio and Brahim Diaz.
60′ – A confrontation between Bellingham and Foyth sees the Villarreal captain exaggerate contact to the face. The referee intervenes but takes no further action.
58′ – Gueye feeds Ayoze Perez, but his shot lacks power, making for an easy save for Courtois.
53′ – Foyth gets another chance from a set piece but volleys over the bar. Madrid must stay alert defensively.
49′ – Barry heads over from a pinpoint Baena cross. Villarreal missing key opportunities.
First Half
Halftime: Villarreal started strong, taking the lead through Juan Foyth. However, Real Madrid responded through Kylian Mbappé, whose brace turned the game around. Courtois made critical saves to keep Madrid ahead at the break.
45+2′ – Another dangerous Villarreal attack, but Pepe’s shot is deflected for a corner.
45′ – Valverde fires wide before Courtois denies Pepe at the other end. Three minutes of added time.
42′ – Real Madrid slows the game down after Villarreal’s intense opening 30 minutes.
30′ – Mbappé and Rodrygo link up, with Rodrygo firing into the side netting.
23′ – GOAL! Mbappé puts Real Madrid ahead! Vazquez finds Mbappé, who finishes clinically past Conde for his second goal.
17′ – GOAL! Mbappé equalizes! He sets up Brahim Diaz for a shot, which Conde saves, but the French star buries the rebound.
7′ – GOAL! Villarreal takes the lead! Foyth finishes from a corner after Madrid fails to clear their lines.
Kickoff Information & Broadcast Details
The La Liga match kicked off at 6:30 p.m. local time in Villarreal. Here’s how the time translated across different regions:
| Region | Date | Kickoff Time |
| USA | Mar 15 | 12:30 p.m. ET |
| Canada | Mar 15 | 12:30 p.m. ET |
| UK | Mar 15 | 5:30 p.m. GMT |
| Australia | Mar 16 | 4:30 a.m. AEDT |
| India | Mar 15 | 11:00 p.m. IST |
Team News & Analysis
Villarreal Team News
- Captain Gerard Moreno remains sidelined due to a calf injury, missing his fifth consecutive La Liga game.
- Moroccan winger Ilias Akhomach is out with an ACL injury sustained in November.
- Tajon Buchanan, on loan from Inter Milan, makes his first La Liga start.
Real Madrid Team News
- Ferland Mendy is out due to an injury sustained in the Champions League match against Atletico.
- Fran Garcia starts at left-back, with Tchouaméni and Asencio joining the backline.
- Vinicius Jr. is benched, with Brahim Diaz taking his place in attack.
- Mbappé operates in his preferred left-wing position, while Bellingham plays a hybrid midfield and false nine role.
Final Thoughts
Real Madrid showcased resilience, overcoming an early setback with Mbappé leading the charge. Villarreal fought hard but lacked the finishing touch in key moments. With this win, Los Blancos temporarily move three points clear at the top, putting pressure on Barcelona ahead of their clash with Atletico Madrid.