Vinicius Junior sent off for hair pull as Real Madrid clinches 1-0 win over Villarreal
Vinicius Junior was dismissed after VAR ruled he pulled an opponent's hair, and Real Madrid held on for a 1-0 victory against Villarreal.
Real Madrid edged Villarreal 1-0 in a La Liga encounter after a contentious incident involving Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian forward celebrated a goal in the 70th minute, but a VAR review showed he had grabbed a defender's hair, leading to the goal being disallowed and his ejection. Reduced to ten players, Real depended on a late strike from 19-year-old Yan Diomande, who scored his debut goal for the club after being released on the edge of an off-side position.
Kylian Mbappé also created scoring opportunities but could not add to the tally. The win lifted Real Madrid to third place, still behind Barcelona and Atlético Madrid in the table.
Why it matters
The match outcome and disciplinary action affect Real Madrid's league position and highlight VAR's impact on game results.
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