Vinícius Júnior sent off for hair pull as Real Madrid edge Villarreal thanks to Diomandé goal

Real Madrid squeezed past Villarreal with a narrow 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabéu, but the result was overshadowed by Vinícius Júnior's dismissal for grabbing Nathan Saliba by the hair. The Brazilian saw red after a VAR review and now faces a suspension that could keep him out of the Clásico against Barcelona on 25 October. Yan Diomandé's first goal for the club proved enough to keep Madrid within six points of the league leaders.

• Yan Diomandé scored his first Real Madrid goal to secure the 1-0 win over Villarreal.
• Vinícius Júnior was sent off after VAR spotted him pulling Nathan Saliba's hair.
• The Brazilian had a goal disallowed for the same incident during the buildup.
• Kylian Mbappé started despite a knee problem and hit the post in the first half.
• Real Madrid remain six points behind Barcelona at the top of La Liga.

Vinícius red card leaves Real Madrid sweating over El Clásico availability

Vinícius came off the bench and thought he had scored after Jude Bellingham charged down the left and cut the ball back for him. But referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos was sent to the monitor to review an earlier moment in the buildup, which showed Vinícius tugging at Nathan Saliba's hair. The outcome was brutal for the Brazilian: the goal was chalked off and he was given a straight red card.

The sending-off leaves Real Madrid waiting to learn how many games Vinícius will miss. If the disciplinary committee treats the action as violent conduct, the winger could be unavailable for the showdown with Barcelona, a match that carries huge weight in the title race.

I don't know what's going on with the referees, with this red card, I don't understand. But the most important thing is the victory.

Diomandé opens his Real Madrid account with the winner

Real Madrid's record signing found the moment that mattered in the second half. Federico Valverde slipped him through with a smart pass and the Ivorian winger produced a sharp low finish into the far corner, leaving Peter Gulacsi with no chance. It was his first goal since arriving at the club, and it arrived just as the Bernabéu crowd was growing restless.

Mbappé starts despite knee issue but leaves frustrated

Kylian Mbappé was passed fit to start after picking up a knee problem while playing for France during the international break, and Mourinho put him straight into the lineup. The Ballon d'Or candidate was met with a mix of whistles and applause from the home support. On the pitch, he was Madrid's sharpest attacking threat before the break, rattling the post after a one-two with Álvaro Carreras and forcing a fine save from Gulacsi.

The Hungarian goalkeeper denied him again in the second half as Mbappé's search for a goal continued. He left the pitch visibly frustrated, though his team managed to close out three valuable points to keep pace with Barcelona.

Courtois stands tall as Real Madrid finish with ten men

After Vinícius was sent off, Villarreal piled forward in search of an equalizer. Carlos Romero forced Thibaut Courtois into an acrobatic save, one of several smart stops the Belgian goalkeeper produced on the night. His reliability between the posts proved decisive as Real Madrid protected their slim lead through the closing stages.

How the La Liga title race looks after Madrid's narrow win

The victory provisionally lifts Real Madrid into third place and keeps them six points adrift of Barcelona at the summit. Mourinho's side still control their own fate in the upcoming fixtures, but the possible absence of Vinícius for El Clásico adds another layer of uncertainty. The defensive solidity shown against Villarreal and Diomandé's breakthrough goal offer encouraging signs for a team that has often leaned too heavily on Mbappé and Bellingham in attack.