Real Madrid v Villarreal – Preview, Predictions and Best Bets

Real Madrid face Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday night. Carlo Ancelotti has his side playing some lovely free-flowing football with 14 goals netted in their last four matches. Unai Emery’s Villareal side are unbeaten in La Liga so far but have drawn four of their five matches. Los Blancos are seven matches unbeaten against the Yellow Submarine.

Real Madrid Form

Madrid look great so far under Carlo Ancelotti. After seven matches, they have six wins and one draw and have scored four goals, three goals, five goals and six goals in different games as the Italian coach gives his side the freedom to express themselves.

A 5-2 win against Celta Vigo was followed by an 89th-minute winner at Inter Milan for a 1-0 Champions League victory. Real then won 2-1 at Valencia having trailed 1-0 after 85 minutes as Vinicius Junior and Karim Benzema continued their sublime scoring form. In midweek, they thrashed Mallorca 6-1 as Marco Asensio netted a hattrick and Benzema added two goals.

Real Madrid Team News

Ancelotti has a pretty settled side but around 14-15 players are starting regularly. Dani Carvajal is injured and may miss this match so Nacho could cover at right-back with academy graduate Miguel Gutierrez at left-back. David Alaba looks settled and comfortable in the middle of the back four.

Luka Modric and Eden Hazard were both unused substitutes against Mallorca and saw the side give a top performance. Modric should return to the XI with Eduardo Camavinga dropping to the bench but Hazard isn’t likely to get his place back after Asensio’s hattrick last time out. Toni Kroos remains out injured so Fedi Valverde will start in midfield yet again.

Real Madrid Motivation

Madrid have what looks like a soft Champions League fixture at home against Sheriff in midweek so their entire focus can be on this match.

They will play with freedom and are likely to select four attacking players to really take the game to Villarreal, knowing that Emery will cede possession and have his side sit deep.

Villarreal Form

Villarreal finished seventh in La Liga last season, drawing 13 of their matches and lifting the Europa League under Emery. This season began by drawing with Chelsea (and losing on penalties) in the UEFA Super Cup before three consecutive league draws, with two ending goalless.

A 2-2 home draw with Atalanta followed in their opening UEFA Champions League match having led 2-1 with eight minutes left on the clock. A third 0-0 stalemate followed in La Liga at Mallorca before finally registering a first win in midweek by thrashing Elche 4-1. Four different scorers hit the target.

Villarreal Team News

Unai Emery was without top striker Gerard Moreno in midweek but he has a chance of being fit to play this one. Paco Alcacer will lead the line otherwise after the club sold Carlos Bacca and whilst £10m Boulaye Dia settles into the club.

Raul Albiol and Juan Foyth were unused substitutes in midweek but should both return to the back four. Exciting winger Samuel Chukwueze is still out injured after a serious hamstring problem towards the end of last season.

Villarreal Motivation

Emery will set up as he usually does in the tough matches. He will play either a solid 4-5-1 shape or use a compact 4-4-2 with both strikers dropping back to strengthen the midfield. His side are happy to allow the opponents the ball and will use counters to look for a goal.

The coach is often very satisfied to take a draw from matches and would take a point from this one. He is expected to play for a draw from the first whistle.

Key Stats

Madrid have scored 22 goals in 7 matches this season

Real Madrid have conceded in 5 of their 6 La Liga matches this season

Villarreal have lost 5 of their last 14 La Liga matches

Villarreal have kept 5 clean sheets in their last 8 La Liga matches

Villarreal have seen Both Teams to Score No in 4 of their last 7 matches

Real Madrid have Won with Both Teams Scoring in their last 3 home matches vs Villarreal

Verdict

Real Madrid should win this match. They are playing some lovely stuff whilst Villarreal have looked functional and a bit uninspired. I am tipping this to be a fourth Madrid win with BTTS in a row at home to Villarreal.