Real Madrid will eye a comfortable win over Villarreal as they aim to leaplog league leaders Girona.
Spanish giants Real Madrid will welcome Villarreal to the Santiago Bernabeu as they aim to snatch away the top spot in La Liga from surprise package Girona.
As things stand, Los Blancos are two points off Girona, who face Deportivo Alaves on Monday night. Should Real Madrid win, they will go top of the league and will be able to put the ball in Girona’s court.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have the meanest defence in the league and will hope to keep yet another clean sheet on the night. Meanwhile, the Yellow Submarine look to be a pale shadow of the team that finished fifth last season. They are currently in the 14th spot, a mere six points off the relegation zone.
Having lost 2-0 last time out to Real Sociedad, the visitors will certainly need to raise their game to give themselves a shot in Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s mean, on the other hand, are coming off the back of a 3-2 win away to Union Berlin and will not have the top spot in La Liga firmly in their sights.
With just two games left this year in the league, both teams will be keen to end December on a high. It promises to be an intriguing clash in the Spanish capital. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how these two sides will line up and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Real Madrid
Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost just once in the league this season and will be keen to return to the top of the Spanish footballing pyramid after having watched Barcelona secure the title last season.
Despite suffering several injury setbacks, Real Madrid have continued to rack up the results this season. Ancelotti will now be aiming to secure maximum points from the remaining two games this year before regrouping in January and fashioning a fresh assault at the top prizes.
Several top stars such as Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler are all out injured. Guler could yet return to contention but is unlikely to be handed a starting spot. Los Blancos still have a few aces up their sleeve and should have enough in the tank to collect the win.
A 4-3-1-2 formation appears to be the way forward for Ancelotti, with Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Lucas Vazquez, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy.
The experienced trio of Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric will marshall the midfield, with Jude Bellingham pushing on further upfield. Joselu scored twice against Union Berlin and will be keen to keep that purple patch going alongside Rodrygo in the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Kepa; Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Joselu
Villarreal
The Yellow Submarine have conceded 29 goals in La Liga this season, a number that is dwarfed only by Granada and Almeria, the two sides that are at the bottom of La Liga. They have kept just one clean sheet in the last nine La Liga clashes and will have their work cut out in Madrid.
Villarreal’s form domestically has been in stark contrast to that in Europe. Marcelino’s men have qualified for the Europa League knockouts as group winners but find themselves searching for a first win in three games in the league.
Injuries will not make his task easier with the quartet of Santi Comesana, Yeremy Pino, Aissa Mandi and Denis Suarez all unavailable. However, Villarreal are expected to retain a 4-3-3 formation that offers them tactical flexibility, given Real’s superior quality in the middle of the park.
Filip Jorgensen should start in goal behind the back four of Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol, Matteo Gabbia and Adria Altimira. Dani Parejo should hold the fort in the middle of the park with Etienne Capoue and Alex Baena. Ilias Akhomach and Gerard Moreno should provide the width with Alexander Sorloth leading the line.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Jorgensen; Foyth, Albiol, Gabbia, Altimira; Capoue, Parejo, Baena; Akhomach, Sorloth, Gerard Moreno
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have won only four of their last nine home games against Villarreal in La Liga.
- If Villarreal win, it will be their third win in a row against Real Madrid in La Liga, having done the double over Los Blancos in 2022/23.
- Since 2014/15, Villarreal have taken nine points off Real Madrid in La Liga. During that time, only Barcelona and Atletico Madrid have managed to do better against Los Blancos.
- Real Madrid have lost just one of their last 30 home games in La Liga.
- Villarreal have lost eight of their 16 La Liga games this season. They have never before suffered so many losses at this stage of the season.
Player to Watch
Jude Bellingham
The summer signing has been the standout transfer of the 2023 summer transfer window and continues to show no signs of slowing down. Bellingham has taken to expectations at Real like a fish to water and is arguably the club’s most important player today.
He has made it a habit to pop up when Real Madrid need him, and it will not come as a surprise should the winning goal come off his boot on Sunday. The Golden Boy winner should continue to display his Golden standard with Europe watching.
Prediction
Real Madrid 2-0 Villarreal
While Villarreal have a good record against Real Madrid, the disparity in quality and form between both teams is visible for all to see. With home support to boot, it is difficult to see anything other than a Los Blancos victory on the night. The Hard Tackle predicts the home side to clinch a 2-0 victory for Carlo Ancelotti and his charges.