Vinicius Junior scores stunner as Real Madrid bounce back with Villarreal win

Vinicius Junior’s superb long-range effort helped seal Real Madrid’s 2-0 home win against Villarreal and lift them level on points with LaLiga leaders Barcelona.

Federico Valverde’s deflected effort gave Real a half-time lead before Vinicius Junior’s thunderbolt with 17 minutes left proved enough for Los Blancos.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side bounced back from their shock midweek Champions League defeat to Lille, but it was not a wholly convincing performance.

Real lost for the first time since January and in 37 matches when losing 1-0 in France on Wednesday, but are now unbeaten in 41 LaLiga games and edged closer to Barcelona’s all-time record of 43 set in 2018.

Los Blancos, accused of making slow starts to matches this season, silenced their critics by taking a 14th-minute lead following a short corner.

Luka Modric rolled the ball to Valverde on the edge of the penalty area and the Uruguay midfielder’s shot deflected off Villarreal’s Alex Baena and spun into the bottom corner.

Villarreal had lost only once in LaLiga this season on their way up to third place in the table and despite being without six-goal striker Ayoze Perez, they were not disheartened after falling behind.

Nicolas Pepe, who had already gone close before Real’s opener, skimmed the crossbar with a superb header from Baena’s cross and Thierno Barry also headed narrowly off target for the visitors.

Jude Bellingham, yet to open his goal account this season after scoring 19 in LaLiga in the last campaign, curled a shot off target as Real began to take control in the first half’s closing stages.

Kylian Mbappe, back in the starting XI after a thigh injury, raced into the box on to Vinicius Junior’s pass only to be denied the home side’s second goal by Villarreal goalkeeper Diego Conde’s outstretched leg.

Baena curled a free-kick into the side-netting early in the second half and as Real’s intensity levels dropped, Villarreal enjoyed a spell of possession without creating clear-cut chances.

But just as home fans began to vent some frustration, Brazil forward Vinicius Junior crashed home a brilliant strike from outside the penalty area in the 73rd minute.

Vincius Junior went off holding his shoulder soon after and was replaced by Arda Guler, while Villarreal created two chances in their bid to halve the deficit.

Pape Gueye failed to properly connect from six yards and Barry fired wide after good work from Ilias Akhomach.

Real’s win ended on a sour note when defender Dani Carvajal was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with what appeared to be a serious knee injury after a challenge with Yeremy Pino.

Barca, who remain top on goal difference, play at Alaves on Sunday.