Real Madrid beats Villarreal 2-0 in La Liga but loses Carvajal to leg injury

MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid rebounded from its first loss in nearly 10 months by beating Villarreal 2-0 at the possible cost of injured right back Dani Carvajal in La Liga on Saturday.

Federico Valverde and Vinícius Júnior scored for the defending champions four days after they lost at Lille 1-0 in the Champions League to halt a 36-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Madrid remains unbeaten in 41 consecutive Spanish league games. Beating third-placed Villarreal gave Madrid the same 21 points as Barcelona, which visits Alaves on Sunday.

Carvajal was hurt in second-half stoppage time at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, going down in pain after kicking the leg of an opponent. He appeared to make a gesture showing something snapped in his leg. The Spain international was crying when he was carried off the field on a stretcher.

“It looks like it's a very serious knee injury," Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “Everyone is sad and worried. It's something that happens very often because of the calendar and it has happened to a very important player in out squad.”

Ancelotti said Carvajal will undergo tests. Madrid's reserve right back is Lucas Vázquez.

“Carvajal is a key player for us because of his experience and his attitude,” Ancelotti said of the 32-year-old defender who started in Madrid's youth squads and joined the main team in 2013-14.

Villarreal, which was coming off two straight wins, had only one attempt on target. Madrid had two, scoring on both of them.

Valverde scored in the 14th minute with a long-range shot that deflected in off a defender. Vinícius struck from outside the area in the 72nd into the top corner.

Celta Vigo striker Iago Aspas was sent off in a 1-0 win at last-placed Las Palmas after being issued consecutive yellow cards for protesting.

He complained about the referee’s decision to show a red card to teammate Ilaix Moriba and received the first yellow in the 54th minute. Aspas' second came in the 56th. The striker was seen briefly asking his teammates to leave the field after he was sent off.

Celta held on despite playing two men down to the end of the match. Borja Iglesia scored a 28th-minute winner in the visitor's only attempt on goal.

The result ended a three-game winless streak for Celta.

Las Palmas, the only team yet to win in the league, hasn’t won in 23 straight league matches going back to last season, when it barely avoided relegation.

Jorge de Frutos scored a pair of second-half goals for Rayo Vallecano to win at Valladolid 2-1, while Espanyol defeated Mallorca 2-1 at home and Osasuna drew at Getafe 1-1.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Villarreal's Alex Baena holds Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid's Eduardo Camavinga falls in front of Villarreal's Alex Baena during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid players celebrate after a goal during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal receives the ball during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid's Federico Valverde celebrates after he scored during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez checks on his teammate Dani Carvajal during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal is carried off the pitch during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal grimaces in pain during the La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Villareal in Madrid, Spain, on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mitch Marner had a goal and an assist in his 700th career game, Mark Stone tied the Golden Knights' record with a goal in his seventh straight game, and Vegas defeated the St. Louis Blues 4-2 on Saturday night for its third straight win.

Jack Eichel and Shea Theodore, who had been out since Dec. 13 because of an upper-body injury, also scored goals for the Golden Knights. Akira Schmid stopped 17 shots.

Robert Thomas had a goal and assist for the Blues, and Jake Neighbours scored the other goal on a power play. Jordan Binnington finished with 21 saves as St. Louis lost its third straight.

Stone kept his scoring streak alive with an empty-net goal with 2:24 left to tie the club record set by Max Pacioretty in 2021.

Blues defenseman Philip Broberg, who earlier in the day signed to a six-year, $48 million contract extension, suffered an upper-body injury just 1:35 into the game and did not return. He was hurt after Stone's check near the boards.

All three Golden Knights victories during this current streak occurred after the opponent took the early lead. Winnipeg and Columbus each took 2-0 leads and St. Louis was up 1-0. The Golden Knights improved to 9-8-7 in when their opponent scores first.

After Thomas gave the Blues their early lead 53 seconds into the first period, Vegas tied it at 7:34 when Marner put in his own rebound. Goals by Eichel and Theodore in the second period put the Golden Knights ahead 3-1.

This is Marner's first season with the Golden Knights after he was acquired in a sign-and-trade with Toronto on July 1. Teammate Keegan Kolesar, who has been with the Golden Knights all seven of his seasons, appeared in his 400th game.

Blues: Host Carolina on Tuesday.

Golden Knights: At San Jose on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mitch Marner (93) skates with the puck against St. Louis Blues defenseman Cam Fowler (17) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

St. Louis Blues defenseman Philip Broberg is helped off the ice after being checked by Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Reilly Smith jumps past St. Louis Blues center Oskar Sundqvist (70) during the second period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)