The China Mail - Mbappe double at Villarreal takes 'exhausted' Real Madrid top

Los Blancos moved three points clear of rivals Barcelona, having played two extra games, with the Catalans visiting third place Atletico Madrid on Sunday in a key clash in the Spanish title race.

Madrid were unhappy the game was taking place fewer than 72 hours after their Champions League win on penalties against Atletico on Wednesday.

"The team has something special, character, commitment," Ancelotti told reporters, insisting Madrid would refuse to play without "72 hours of rest" between matches as recommended by world football governing body FIFA.

However despite their complaints they had enough in the tank to beat their opponents, fifth, at the Estadio de la Ceramica.

"We kept going on a physical level, above all in the second half, the team ended up exhausted, but that was to be expected," said Ancelotti.

"It's a win that says a lot about this team and the ability this squad has."

Ancelotti began with Vinicius Junior on the bench after the draining victory against Atletico in the last 16.

Villarreal started strongly and Thibaut Courtois got down well to his right to tip Ayoze Perez's shot around the post.

From the resulting corner Villarreal took the lead, with the ball rebounding to Juan Foyth, who smashed home from close range.

Ancelotti's side hit back quickly, with Mbappe levelling after 17 minutes.

Brahim Diaz's attempted lob was saved by Diego Conde, but the French striker dispatched the rebound with minimal fuss.

Soon Mbappe had his second, helping to spread the ball to the right and then finishing with aplomb after Lucas Vazquez found him in the middle of the box.

It was Mbappe's 20th league goal of the season, putting him one behind the top scorer, Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski.

Content with their lead Madrid soaked up Villarreal pressure in the rest of the first half, with Courtois saving well from Nicolas Pepe.

Villarreal coach Marcelino Garcia Toral sent on Thierno Barry for Pepe at the break, as the Yellow Submarine looked to avoid a first home defeat in La Liga by Madrid since 2017.

Foyth might have levelled early in the second half but volleyed over the bar when well placed.

- 'A football fan' -

Ancelotti sent on Vinicius and Luka Modric to try and help Madrid put the game to bed and they regained some control from the enterprising hosts.

Conde saved from Fede Valverde and at the other end Perez came close with a sharp turn and powerful effort which flew just over Courtois' crossbar, which was as close as his side came to a leveller.

"The start wasn't the best but that's normal with little rest that it's hard on the legs, but then we came back quickly, we defended well, we were very tired but the commitment we showed was important," Courtois told Real Madrid TV.

Now Ancelotti and his side can sit back and watch the two teams below them duke it out at the Metropolitano stadium.

"For us it was important to win today, obviously I will watch it, because it will be a very entertaining game," said Ancelotti.

"Tomorrow I will be a football fan, and nothing more."

Earlier Mallorca beat Espanyol 2-1 with a late Vedat Muriqi penalty, with the target man making amends after scoring an own goal and missing another spot-kick.

Celta Vigo beat bottom of the table Valladolid 1-0, inflicting their 20th defeat of the season.

F.Brown--ThChM