On Saturday afternoon, Villarreal and Real Madrid go head-to-head at the Estadio de la Ceramica, in a potentially vital game at the business end of La Liga. 

Villarreal

Unai Emery’s team are now very much back in the picture for a top-four spot in La Liga this season. A superb 2-0 win at in-form Real Betis last time out in the Spanish top-flight followed a 3-0 home win over Mallorca. 

The back-to-back wins have been enough to move the Yellow Submarine up to sixth place in La Liga’s table, just three points adrift of fourth-place Barcelona, who also have a game in hand on the home team. 

Villarreal have a good recent home record in the Spanish top-flight, as they have now won six of their last eight league matches at the Ceramica. 

REAL MADRID

Los Blancos are now firm favourites to win the Spanish title this season after establishing a six-point lead over Sevilla at the top of La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti’s team has been slightly underwhelming at times in recent games. However, a 1-0 home win over Granada last time out in La Liga means that the visitors have won ten of their last 13 league matches. 

Real Madrid have a stellar away record in La Liga, having won five of their last six away matches. A 1-0 defeat against city rivals Getafe in their last away game ended a five-game winning run on their travels in the Spanish top-flight.

Villareal vs Real Madrid Team News

Villarreal could be without midfielder Francis Coquelin and striker Paco Alcacer through injury. Real Madrid may be without Casemiro, Mariano Diaz, Karim Benzema, Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy through injury.