Villarreal are enjoying an excellent La Liga season, winning 13 of their 19 matches to sit third on 41 points, seven behind Real Madrid and eight off leaders Barcelona, softfootball reported.
With a game in hand on both clubs, a win on Saturday would send a real statement and boost their title hopes. At home, the Yellow Submarine have been strong, picking up 25 points from 10 matches.
However, Villarreal’s European campaign has been disappointing. Their elimination from the Champions League was confirmed after a 2-1 loss to Ajax, and they have collected just one point from seven group games.
Juventus also played out a draw with Villarreal during the group stage, further highlighting how difficult the competition has been for the Spanish side. That contrast between domestic success and European struggles is stark.
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Real Madrid arrive off the back of a superb 6-1 win over Monaco in the Champions League, a result that leaves them well placed to qualify for the knockout rounds. In La Liga, Los Blancos beat Levante 2-0 last time out and have closed the gap on Barcelona to a single point.
Before facing Villarreal, Real Madrid took to their official X handle to post clips from training, showing a focused and confident squad preparing for the vital trip.
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In head-to-head history, Real Madrid have lost just six of their last 54 matches against Villarreal in all competitions and claimed a 3-1 win in the reverse fixture this season. They haven’t lost away to Villarreal since January 2023.
Team News
Villarreal will be without Willy Kambwala (hamstring), Logan Costa (knee), Pau Cabanes (knee), Santi Comesaña (suspended) and Santiago Mourino (suspended).
Head coach Marcelino is expected to make changes from the side that lost to Ajax, with Tajon Buchanan, Georges Mikautadze, Dani Parejo, Pau Navarro and Alfonso Pedraza all pushing for starts. Gerard Moreno is also pushing for a place, but Ayoze Pérez is likely to lead the line alongside Mikautadze.
Real Madrid have a few selection issues. Aurelien Tchouameni is suspended, while Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Eder Militao (hamstring), Ferland Mendy (hamstring) and Antonio Rüdiger (knee) are ruled out.
Rodrygo and Brahim Díaz have returned to training and could feature, and Arda Güler is expected to step into midfield due to Tchouameni’s absence. Federico Valverde may continue at right-back, while Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Junior will start after their impressive performances against Monaco.
Possible Lineups
Villarreal possible lineup: Junior; Navarro, Veiga, Foyth, Pedraza; Buchanan, Parejo, Gueye, Moleiro; Perez, Mikautadze.
Real Madrid possible lineup: Courtois; Valverde, Huijsen, Asencio, Carreras; Guler, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Prediction
Most major sports platforms and prediction models are backing Real Madrid to edge this one, with many tipping a 2-1 away win for Los Blancos.
The champions’ recent form, quality in attack and historical dominance over Villarreal have influenced these forecasts, though some analysts see this as a tight contest where a surprise Villarreal result cannot be ruled out.
Where to watch
| Region | Where to Watch |
|---|---|
| United States | ESPN Select, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes, fuboTV |
| United Kingdom | Disney+ |
| Nigeria / Africa | SuperSport Máximo 3, SuperSport Máximo 1, SuperSport Football Plus ROA, SuperSport GOtv LaLiga, SuperSport LaLiga ROA |
| Spain | Movistar Fútbol |
| Germany / Italy / Portugal | DAZN |
| India | FanCode |
| Canada | TSN Plus |
