After experiencing very different fortunes in midweek European competition, Villarreal host Real Madrid at El Madrigal in the final game of matchweek 15.
El Submarino Amarillo will not be looking forward to their short turnaround having played just 72 hours prior against Viktoria Plzen in a Europa League clash. Marcelino’s team’s patchy away form was again on display in the Czech Republic as they needed an injury time goal from captain Bruno Soriano to level the match at 3-3.
Villarreal have become one of La Liga’s most inconsistent sides having taken only seven points from their previous five league matches. Between their domestic matches have been two Europa League matches, a win and a draw and a loss in the Copa Del Rey against Segunda side Huesca.
In stark contrast, Los Blancos are on a streak of five successive wins since the defeat in El Clasico. Cristiano Ronaldo and co had a much nicer time midweek, rolling over Malmo 8-0 at the Bernabeu.
Some controversy has hit the club with their expulsion from the Copa Del Rey. Having soundly defeated Cadiz 3-1 it was found that Madrid fielded an ineligible player, Denis Cheryshev, who was carrying a suspension picked up in the cup last season, ironically while on loan at Villarreal.
Key Battle – Villarreal’s makeshift defence vs BBC (Bale, Benzema, Cristiano)
The home side has had a shocking run with injuries thus far this season and will enter this game without either of its first choice wing-backs and at least one centre-back, if not two, who played 90 minutes against Plzen.
Eighteen-year-old Adrian Marin will likely line up on the left side of defence meaning a battle with Welshman Gareth Bale in just his third Liga start of the season.
Antonio Rukavina will come in for the injured Mario on the right side, which is where Villarreal shipped both goals against Getafe two weeks prior, and come face-to-face with Ronaldo. The Portugese wonder has scored five goals in his last two matches and will be looking to increase that tally.
Through the middle, Victor Ruiz and Eric Bailly will attempt to control Karim Benzema who also has five goals in his last two games.
Team News
Villarreal will be the much wearier of the two sides and Marcelino will look to make as many changes as possible from the side that played in Plzen.
What will be interesting for the home side will be how it lines up. Mostly sticking to a 4-4-2 at home this season, Marcelino is likely to change to a 4-5-1 in an attempt to contain the attacking prowess of Madrid.
The pairing of Bruno and Tomas Pina will likely start as defensive midfielders, while Roberto Soldado will lead the line against his former club.
Villarreal Expected Starting XI (4-5-1): Areola (GK); Marin, Bailly, Ruiz, Rukavina; Suarez, Bruno, Pina, Trigueros, Dos Santos; Soldado.
The biggest question mark over Real Madrid’s starting XI will be the fitness of Sergio Ramos. The Spanish international has been out since the Clasico but Rafa Benitez said that he would not be ruled out for the trip to Villarreal.
Having returned to training but not yet fully fit, it would be a surprise to see the captain line up against the Yellow Submarine and thus Nacho will continue to deputise.
Real Madrid Expected Starting XI (4-3-3): Navas (GK); Marcelo, Pepe, Nacho, Danilo; Kroos, Modric, James; Ronaldo, Benzema, Bale.
Head-to-Head
Unsurprisingly, Real Madrid dominate the head-to-head, winning 19 of the 30 matches played between the two sides.
Previous Meeting
The last time these two sides met, the Yellow Submarine battled to a 1-1 draw at the Bernabeu.
Ronaldo opened the scoring for the home side from the penalty spot only for Villarreal to claw themselves back into the game thanks to former striker Gerard Moreno.
Prediction
With a longer break, a shorter unavailable list, a deadly front trio and a bigger appetite for success, there is no looking past Real Madrid here.
If Los Blancos fire on all cylinders going forward, this match has the potential to blow out as Marcelino’s travel-weary soldiers will struggle against the men from the capital.
This match has the potential to run eerily similar to Villarreal’s earlier season clash with Barcelona with the Yellow Submarine defending for their lives only to be run over in the end by the classier outfit.
Villarreal 0 Real Madrid 4
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