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A rejuvenated Real Madrid visit El Madrigal looking to add more wind to their sails when they take on Villarreal on matchday 15 of La Liga. Madrid come on the back of a spirit-raising 8-0 shellacking of Malmo in the final Champions League group game this midweek.
With a qualification to the next round already secured, Los Blancos still showed no mercy whatsoever on the hapless Swedish side, who were slaughtered to mincemeat from pillar to post. The emphatic victory went some way to weather the storm that was engulfing the Madrid outfit following their Clasico humiliation and Copa Del Rey expulsion.
With confidence now gushing through their veins again, the Meringues will hope to extend the purple patch with another win at a tricky Villarreal, who are just two positions adrift of them in fourth. The Yellow Submarine managed to sneak through to the last 32 of the Europa League with an entertaining 3-3 draw to Viktoria Plzen.
But have been far from straightforward in the league, having won only twice in the last 8 matches. Their home run, though, should give them a cushion entering this crunch tie, having lost only once, a 2-1 reverse to Celta Vigo on matchday 8, in 7 games.
However, the question remains whether they will be able to thwart the Real Madrid juggernaut that makes its way there this Sunday.
Kickoff and Telecast
Date & Time: 14 December 2015 – 1:00AM (IST)
Venue: Estadio El Madrigal, Villarreal
Channel: Sony Kix
Team News
Villarreal have no injury concerns as such, but manager Marcelino is likely to make a few changes in the line-up that started at Plzen just 72 hours ago. Shunning their usual 4-4-2, Marcelino will probably field a 4-5-1 formation, looking to contain Real’s stellar attackers.
While Bruno and Tomas Pina are likely to be reinstated as the defensive midfielders, striker Roberto Soldado will be leading from the front against his former side.
Real Madrid The visitors will have Marcelo, Gareth Bale, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez back in the starting XI, having rested for the midweek Champions League shenanigans. But they are still fretting over the fitness status of centre-back Sergio Ramos, who has returned to training this week, but hasn’t completely recovered from the shoulder knock he’s been nursing since the Clasico.
Probable starting line-ups
Villareal (4-5-1): Areola, Marin, Bailly, Ruiz, Rukavina, Suarez, Bruno, Pina, Trigueros, Dos Santos, Soldado
Real Madrid (4-3-3): Navas, Marcelo, Pepe, Nacho, Danilo, Kroos, Modric, James, Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.
Form
Villarreal‘s form has tapered on the road towards mid-season after a bright start to the league campaign that saw 5 victories on the bounce in the opening six games. Victories over Athletic Bilbao, Malaga, Atletico Madrid and Sevilla are some of the highlights of their campaign, but the gloss is taken off with some humblings to the lowly Levante, Las Palmas and Getafe.
Needless to say, they have been one of the most inconsistent teams in La Liga this term, and have failed to carry the bright form that saw them win four of the six Europa League ties, into their domestic fixtures.
Last five games: W-L-L-W-D (Last match: Viktoria Plzen 3-3 Villarreal)
Real Madrid are hitting their stride again and need to maintain the form to cut the deficit at the top to Barcelona, who sit four points ahead after 14 rounds. Following the Clasico drubbing, the 10-time European Champions have won five successive games, bringing their derailed campaign back on track.
Most of the key players have returned from injury, the ‘BBC’ trio are once again firing on all cylinders, whereas Rafa Benitez’s rapport with the players is improving with each passing week. Things are falling into place slowly, and the Blancos need to accentuate it with another vital win here.
Last five games: W-W-W-W-W (Last match: Real Madrid 8-0 Malmo)
Key Stats
- Real Madrid have drawn twice in their last three visits to El Madrigal.
- Three of the last five clashes between the sides have ended in draws.
- Villarreal have beaten Real Madrid just twice in the last 30 games, losing 19.
- Cristiano Ronaldo has scored in each of his last four appearances against Villarreal.
- Gareth Bale had made his Real Madrid debut against Villareal on 15th September 2013 in a 2-2 draw that saw the Welshman open his scoring his account with the equaliser to Cani’s opener.
Prediction
Despite the mediocre results against Villareal in the recent times, the visiting team are likely to roll over the unpredictable Submarines. Los Blancos come into the game as the in-form team and will most certainly continue their winning run.
Expect Benzema and Ronaldo to play the whipping boys for the visitors by pumping in another set of strikes in Villarreal’s net.
Predicted score: Villarreal 0-3 Real Madrid
Betting Odds (bet365)
Villareal – 17/4
Draw – 16/5
Real Madrid – 8/13
