Thanks to striker Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid at least temporarily took over the top of the table in Primera División.
In the 2-1 (2: 1) in Villarreal, the 26-year-old Mbappé (17th and 23rd minute) scored his season number 19 and 20. For the hosts, Juan Foyth (7th) had initially taken for the hosts.
Ancelotti protects Rüdiger and Co.
Three days after the Champions League thriller against the city rival Atlético, coach Carlo Ancelotti spared some of his strained stars at the beginning, so DFB defense chief Antonio Rüdiger also sat on the bench until the 62nd minute.
In the table, Real (60 points) is now three points in front of FC Barcelona (57), but has played two more games. The catalans trained by Hansi Flick are challenged on Sunday evening (9:00 p.m./DAZN and live in the sports show ticker) in the top game at the third in the table Atlético Madrid (56).