Soccer-Valverde stunner helps Real beat Villarreal 2-0

MADRID (Reuters) – An early Federico Valverde strike helped Real Madrid to a 2-0 home win against Villarreal in LaLiga on Saturday as the defending champions provisionally moved level with leaders Barcelona in the standings.

Real took the lead in the 14th minute with a stunning long-range shot by Valverde following a Luka Modric corner. Brazilian forward Vinicius Jr doubled the advantage with an unstoppable strike into the top corner from outside the box in the 73rd.

Real are second in the standings, level with Barcelona on 21 points before the LaLiga leaders visit 11th-placed Alaves on Sunday.

Villarreal are third with 17 points.

(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk; Editing by Christian Radnedge)