First half goals from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo gave Real Madrid a third Primera Liga win on the trot at Villarreal in a match that saw a ‘Come Home Ronaldo’ banner by Manchester United fans flown over the stadium.
A bright start at the El-Madrigal saw both sides test the respective goalkeepers, with Nigerian inteenational Ike Uche forcing Iker Casillas to a low save in the seventh minute before Cristiano Ronaldo did same with an 11th minute strike.
Luciano Vietto came close to scoring in the 13th minute with an effort at the near post for Villarreal, with the Argentine forward wasting the home side’s best chance of the half soon after, shooting over after being put through on goal by Uche.
Villarreal would be punished for its strikers profligacy when Modric got on to a Toni Kroos pass to put Real ahead just after the half-hour mark while Ronaldo effectively sealed the win five minutes before half-time with his 10th league goal of the season and ninth goal in his last four matches in all competitions.
Villarreal created more chances in the second half but Real held on to claim a 2-0 win that ends a run of two visits to the El-Madrigal without a win and leaves the European champions in fifth place with 12 points after six matches.
Real Madrid however remain four points behind league leaders and arch-rivals Barcelona that returned to winning ways with a 6-0 demolition of Granada in the Nou Camp on Saturday.