3 am, October 6, 2024, in the sixth round of the La Liga, Real Madrid vs. Villarreal: a focus battle of strong dialogues kicked off at the Bernabeu Stadium. Real Madrid lost to the French Ligue 1 team Lille with a score of 0:1 in the middle of the week, suffering their first defeat of the season. The Yellow Submarine is in good form and has been at the top of the standings since the start of the season. In the end, Real Madrid defeated their opponent at home with great difficulty thanks to Valverde's outstanding performance, but the team captain Carvajal was seriously injured and Vinicius also suffered a shoulder injury, causing Real Madrid to suffer heavy losses.

The most solid Real Madrid of the season got through a difficult match by relying on balance and talent. The first was the work of Camavinga and Valverde, notable in the middle, and for the second, Vinicius came up with a world-class spark. A magnificent mid-distance shot sealed the match against a Villarreal that only caused concern at the beginning and the end, uncomfortable with the seriousness of the whites. The last executioner at the Bernabéu had few options to repeat the feat 545 days later. Carvajal's injury in stoppage time wiped out all the optimism in the stadium, which shrank when hearing the captain's cries. Madrid fans cross their fingers that it all ends up as a scare.

Ancelotti's eleven sounded good. After the upset in the Champions League, he kept the 4-4-2 with Tchouaméni as a centre-back and Modric in midfield as the big novelty. The Croatian's judgment in the derby was missed against Lille, so it seemed logical to recover that talent for the visit of the last team to conquer the Bernabéu. It was not a lesser Villarreal, but the third-placed team, one point behind the white team, with casualties, yes, but with Álex Baena in a state of grace. That's how the game went. Great.

Villarreal threatened first, revealing their plan. Two wingers, one deep (Pépé) and another making diagonal runs to the centre (Baena) to look for the pass back. Just like that. Pepé's shot, a cross to the penalty spot and Baena's finish. The yellows handled the ball with ease in the opponent's half, although they need to adjust at the back. It was noticeable in the first white corner, in a strategic move that put Valverde in a shooting position. Fede shot, hit Baena and threw Conde off balance.

The early goal settled Madrid, despite a quick response from Pépé, who hit the crossbar with a long-range header. Another poisonous move from the second line. Camavinga started to work in the middle, agile in stealing and distributing, while Vinicius uncovered the route into the rival area, outflanking Kiko Femenía. He faced him three times in a row, and missed each time. Logan prevented the goal on the first, the second time he went just wide, and on the third he charged the full-back with a yellow card. The Brazilian was encouraged and was close to widening the gap on the scoreboard with a model counterattack. He received the ball from Mbappé, held his mark and gave him a tense and precise pass that Kylian managed to control, on the run. One on one. Diego Conde came out and stretched his right foot, extraordinary, to scrape the goal off the boot of the Frenchman. That he is not at his best is evident. And he needs hours of flight to find his best version in white.

The break kept things as they were. With Madrid looking to press high up and Villarreal trying to avoid it with the first exquisite touch from Parejo, who has eyes in the back of his head. A blond footballer with the number 8 had been seen putting a measured ball to Carvajal from the left. It was Valverde. Kroos, who returned to the Bernabéu, received the overwhelming homage of the crowd when the cameras focused on him. It was just before Barry's manoeuvre into space, winning behind Tchouaméni, that he committed a penalty. Guadalupe Porras correctly detected that Tierno was offside, so the action was invalidated. It was the most acceptable part of an ugly stretch of the match, at a very low pace, without risk or chances. As if both were saving themselves for the final assault.

Marcelino took a risk by leaving Kiko on the field, who could have seen a second yellow card for bringing down Vinicius without the ball. The Asturian preferred to leave the full-back in his triple substitution, refreshing the wings and changing the centre-back, Bailly for Albiol. He didn't have time to wake up. Without Camavinga and Mbappé, who were short of strength, Madrid made the most of their talent. Valverde stole the ball in the midfield line, connected with Vinicius and the Brazilian, 30 metres from the goal, was ready to detonate a dry, very hard shot, next to the post. A golden ball to define the quality of the 7, capable of deciding in a whiplash.

Villarreal tried to react against the clock from Ilias' flank. Gueye or Barry could have scored to spice up the game. Without Vinicius, injured, and with Bellingham as a false 9, Madrid tried to make little or nothing happen, retreating into their own half. Like the day of Alavés, but without so much folklore. Güler came in from the right and made the work. It seemed all was over when a scream froze the 73,000 people in the stadium. It could be heard even in the highest stands. It was Carvajal's scream when he felt terrible pain in his knee after a clash with Yeremy Pino, who knows what it is like to suffer a serious knee injury. The stadium fell silent, and they broke their hands saying goodbye to their captain, hiding their tears with their hands. Never have three well-managed points tasted so bitter.