Real Madrid will aim for back-to-back league wins when they face top-four hopefuls Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica on Saturday night.
Villarreal will look to return to winning ways when they host La Liga title contenders Real Madrid at Estadio de la Ceramica on Saturday evening. The visitors cannot afford to drop points, with rivals Barcelona leading the race for the league title. Meanwhile, the home side must keep winning to sustain their top-four ambitions.
The Yellow Submarine are fifth on the points table with 44 points in their 26 league outings. Marcelino’s men are five points behind fourth-placed Athletic Club, but they do have a game in hand. The 1-0 loss against Deportivo Alaves was a massive blow to their top-four ambitions, and Villarreal cannot really afford to drop any more points. But going up against Los Blancos won’t be easy.
Real Madrid are second on the points table with 57 points in their 27 outings. While the Merengues are level on points with Barcelona, they have played an extra game. Carlo Ancelotti’s men lost the second leg against Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League, but the team in white progressed to the next round on the back of penalties, and it would have certainly boosted their confidence.
The reigning La Liga champions will be favourites to claim all three points here. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
Villarreal
The home team will be without the services of Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach. Meanwhile, Kiko Femenia remains a major doubt for this fixture. Despite the disappointing result last time, it will be more or less the same XI that started against Alaves.
Against Real Madrid on Saturday, Villarreal will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Diego Conde will be in goal. The back four will be made up of Juan Foyth, Willy Kambwala, Logan Costa, and Sergi Cardona. Foyth and Cardona will be the full-backs, while Costa and Kambwala will feature in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Yeremy Pino and Alex Baena will feature on the flanks, while Pape Gueye will partner with Dani Parejo in a more central role. Thierno Barry could come into the XI in place of Nicolas Pepe, and he should partner Ayoze Perez in the final third.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Conde; Foyth, Kambwala, Costa, Sergi Cardona; Pino, Gueye, Parejo, Baena; Barry, Perez
Villarreal vs Real Madrid Predicted XI
Real Madrid
Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal and Dani Ceballos remain on the sidelines, while Ferland Mendy is also unavailable after picking up a knock last time out. Carlo Ancelotti could shuffle the pack after his team was involved in an intense second leg against Atletico Madrid a few days back.
The visitors will stick to the 4-4-2 formation, where Thibaut Courtois will be in goal. Lucas Vazquez and Fran Garcia could be the full-backs for this one, while David Alaba could return to the XI and partner Raul Asencio at the heart of the defence.
Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham will feature in the wide areas in midfield. Meanwhile, Federico Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni should start in a more central role. They will look to control the tempo. Kylian Mbappe might start on the bench for this, with Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo taking charge up top for Real Madrid against Villarreal.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Alaba, Fran Garcia; Brahim Diaz, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior
Villarreal vs Real Madrid Predicted XI
Key Stats
Villarreal have let in 36 goals, which is the highest among the top eight teams in La Liga.
Los Blancos have been very inconsistent in La Liga, with just two wins in their last six league games.
The Yellow Submarine have won just six out of their last 52 outings against Real Madrid.
The corresponding fixture last season ended in a 4-4 draw.
Villarreal have lost just two games at Estadio de la Ceramica this season.
Player to Watch
Brahim Diaz
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Despite not being a regular starter, Diaz is quite highly rated by Carlo Ancelotti, and he is more of a super-sub for him. But he might start in this fixture, as the Italian tactician will look to rest a few of his stars when Real Madrid take on Villarreal. The Moroccan international has 13 goal contributions in just over 1,600 minutes of first-team action and will be eager to add to the tally.
Prediction
Villarreal 1-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid might have a much stronger squad, but they won’t find it easy against Villarreal, who are pushing for a top-four spot. It will be a highly contested fixture, and Los Blancos might have to use everything in their arsenal to get the desired result. The Hard Tackle predicts a hard-fought 2-1 win for the away team.