Real Madrid in Villarreal clash after shock UCL defeat to Lille.
Real Madrid vs
Villarreal
In a high-stakes clash at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid seek redemption after a Champions League hiccup, while Villarreal aim to continue their impressive form and leapfrog their rivals in this top-of-the-table La Liga showdown.
Real Madrid
A shock 1-0 defeat to Lille in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night handed Madrid their first loss in the competition since May 2023. A Jonathan David penalty in the 45’+2 minute was the match's sole goal, marking a setback on UCL matchday 2 in the league phase of the revamped competition.
With scant time to reflect, Madrid quickly shifts focus to domestic duties, moving from one top-of-the-table clash to the next. After last weekend’s fiery 1-1 derby draw against Atletico Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti's side sits in 2nd place with 18 points (5 wins, 3 draws, 0 losses), trailing Barcelona by three points (21 points), as they aim to return to winning ways.
Madrid are resuming preparations for the weekend’s game against Villarreal. However, recent head-to-head records suggest that Real Madrid's quest for a victory might be challenging; they have won only one of their last six La Liga encounters against Villarreal (1 win, 3 draws, 2 losses), despite scoring four goals in each of their last two matches.
Carlo Ancelotti, recently nominated as one of six candidates for the Best Coach of the 2023/24 season award, is anticipated to employ a 3—1—4—2 formation with Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. leading the attack. Kylian Mbappé, who returned off the bench in the midweek UCL games against Lille, could make an appearance in the lineup.
Villarreal
Unlike Real Madrid, Villarreal earned back-to-back victories with a 3-1 win over Las Palmas on Monday night. This victory, their fifth of the season, helped them equal their fourth-best-ever start in La Liga.
The result awarded the Yellow Submarine their best start in the last decade after eight games played. Currently in 3rd place, Villarreal are looking to leapfrog Real Madrid in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.
The visitors have not lost any of their last six away games, securing four wins and two draws. They will aim to extend their unbeaten run on the road to the capital, though they have struggled to keep a clean sheet in their last five trips.
A 4—4—2 formation is expected, featuring Nicolas Pépé and Thierno Barry, both goalscorers against Las Palmas, in attack for this highly anticipated clash.
