On video: Real Madrid sink Villarreal with a Diomande rocket

Real Madrid edged out visitors Villarreal 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday evening in the eighth round of the Spanish league.

Neither side could break the deadlock in a goalless first half.

The breakthrough arrived in the 62nd minute. Ivorian Yan Diomande latched onto a Fede Valverde pass to fire home the only goal of the match.

Things got tougher for Real on 74 minutes when substitute Vinicius Junior was shown a red card, leaving them a man down.

Victory lifted Real Madrid to 18 points and third in La Liga, while Villarreal stayed stuck on 8 points in tenth.