Full match player ratings below:

Thibaut Courtois—8.5: The big Belgian was a wall when it mattered, pulling off a stunning save to deny Álex Baena. His composure was critical —vintage Courtois keeping the ship steady.

Lucas Vázquez—6: Solid if unspectacular, Lucas did the dirty work at right-back. Didn’t ignite the attack but got the job done.

Aurélien Tchouaméni—7: Showed off his versatility at center back with some crucial clearances.

Raúl Asencio—7: The youngster held his own against Villarreal’s tricky forwards. Solid shift for 60 minutes.

Fran García—6.5: Overlapped with purpose but still risk-averse or daring with his passing.

Eduardo Camavinga—8.5: Relentless pressing and crisp passing—Camavinga was everywhere. The engine room’s heartbeat, has taken a step forward after the Atleti match.

Federico Valverde—6: Fede’s work rate and vision shone through, even if he didn’t grab a goal late in the game.

Jude Bellingham—6: Not his flashiest day, but Jude’s off-ball movement opened space. Looked exhausted throughout the game and fell to his knees at the end of the match.

Brahim Díaz—6: A mixed bag—flashes of brilliance including the combination play with Mbappe to create the first goal.

Kylian Mbappé—9: Two goals, pure class—Mbappé was the difference-maker. Lethal finishing; this is why he’s here — that differential quality to earn a win.

Rodrygo—6: A decent shift with some clever runs, but no end product. Needed more bite from the Brazilian in the final third.

Substitutes:

Vinícius Júnior—6: Cameo was lively but lacked that final killer pass or perfected execution. The chemistry between he and Mbappe is still lacking.

Antonio Rüdiger—7.5: Shored up the backline late with typical grit. No-nonsense defending to see out the game.

Luka Modrić—6:The maestro’s touch was there, but limited minutes curbed his impact.

Arda Güler—4: Poor decision making which led to dangerous Villarreal counter attacks and scorn from his more senior teammates. Did not do himself any favors with his limited cameo. Lack of minutes and lack of confidence affecting the young Turk.