LaLiga wrap: Vinicius Junior brace lifts Real Madrid to the top of the standings

LaLiga wrap: Vinicius Junior brace lifts Real Madrid to the top of the standings

Real Madrid turned things around after a poor first half to beat Villarreal 3-1 in LaLiga on Saturday to move top of the league table.

It was an important comeback win for Los Blancos after they were thrashed by city rivals Atletico Madrid last time out.

However, they did not get off to the start they were hoping for and were booed off the park by their own fans when the referee blew the whistle at half-time with the score locked at 0-0.

Whether it was the crowd reaction or a speech from their coach, they were a different team after halftime and quickly took the lead through a Vinius Junior strike in the 47th minute.

The Brazilian doubled their advantage from the penalty spot in the 69th minute before Georges Mikautadze pulled one back for the visitors four minutes later.

Real finished the game strongly, though, and Kylian Mbappe struck in the 81st minute to restore their two-goal advantage and secure the win.

Elsewhere in LaLiga on Saturday, goals from Carlos Alvarez (30') and Etta Eyong (72') secured an impressive 2-0 win for Levante over Real Oviedo.

Vladyslav Vanat (18') and Arnau Martinez (63') got the goals for Girona in a 2-1 win over Valencia, with Diego Lopez (57') grabbing the consolation for the visitors.

Athletic Club burst out of the blocks with an Inaki Williams penalty in the ninth minute. Samu Costa levelled the scores for Mallorca in the 77th minute before Alejandro Rego grabbed the winner for Athletic five minutes later in a 2-1 victory.