2 Real Madrid vs 0 Villarreal
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| Bet | Real Madrid |
| Stake | 1.75 unit |
| Odds | 1.31 |
| Bookmaker | dafabet |
Real Madrid in Villarreal clash after shock UCL defeat to Lille.
After a surprising Champions League defeat to Lille, Real Madrid aims to rebound and fend off an in-form Villarreal in a high-stakes clash at the Santiago Bernabéu this Saturday evening.
Real Madrid
```htmlA 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 extra time of the first half was the decisive goal on UCL Matchday 2, in the league phase of the revamped competition.
With little time to recover, Madrid quickly shifts focus to domestic duties, moving from one top-of-the-table clash to the next. Following last weekend’s 1-1 derby draw against Atletico Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti’s side holds 2nd place with 18 points (5 wins, 3 draws, 0 losses), trailing table-toppers Barcelona by three points. They approach this fixture eager to return to winning ways.
Madrid has returned to full preparation for the weekend’s game against Villarreal. However, their recent head-to-head record against Villarreal suggests a challenging match ahead. Real Madrid has won just one of their last six La Liga matches against Villarreal, despite scoring four goals in each of their last two games.
Carlo Ancelotti, recently nominated as one of six candidates for the Best Coach of the 2023/24 season award, is expected to field a 3—1—4—2 formation with Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior in attack. Additionally, Kylian Mbappé, having returned off the bench for the midweek UCL game against Lille, could be back in the starting lineup.
```Villarreal
Unlike Real Madrid, Villarreal secured back-to-back victories following a 3-1 win over Las Palmas on Monday night. This victory marked their fifth win of the season and helped Villarreal achieve their fourth-best-ever start in La Liga.
The triumph also provided the Yellow Submarine with their best start in the last decade after eight games played. Currently sitting in 3rd place, Villarreal aims to surpass Real Madrid in Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.
The visitors, unbeaten in their last six away games, will look to continue their strong form on the road as they head to the capital. However, they have struggled defensively, failing to keep a clean sheet in their last five trips.
For this highly anticipated clash, a 4—4—2 formation is expected, featuring Nicolas Pépé and Thierno Barry in attack, both of whom scored against Las Palmas.
Team form
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Team Comparison
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