Real Madrid vs Villarreal

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is the venue as Real Madrid and Villarreal go head-to-head in a top-four La Liga six-pointer.

Real Madrid had it coming since the start of the campaign. After getting away with several sub-par performances in La Liga, Carlo Ancelotti’s side suffered their first defeat in 2024/25 as Lille outscored them 1-0 in midweek Champions League action, halting their 36-game unbeaten run in all competitions (W25, D11). Ancelotti expects his team to bounce back and protect their mind-blowing streak of 40 consecutive unbeaten matches in La Liga (W29, D11) following a morale-wracking 1-1 draw at Atletico Madrid in last weekend’s derby of the capital. Unless they do so, Los Merengues would go three successive games winless for the first time since March 2023! Nearly that time came their last top-flight defeat on home turf as Villarreal bested them in April last year, with the reigning title holders since stringing together an outrageous 28-match unbeaten run at the Bernabeu (W24, D4).

On the other hand, Villarreal will take the field confident that they can replicate that famous 3-2 victory after netting two late goals to topple Las Palmas 3-1 at home earlier this week. Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men have enjoyed a handsomely-looking start to the season, claiming 17 out of 24 available points in La Liga (W5, D2, L1), with the only loss coming against Real Madrid’s fiercest rivals Barcelona on home turf (1-5). They’ve responded with back-to-back league wins ‘to one’ to ascend to third in the table, only four points shy of leaders Barca. Despite their underdog status, ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ won’t feel afraid of their hosts after holding them winless in five of their last seven H2Hs (W2, D3, L2). Adding to Villarreal’s confidence, they’ve only dropped points once on four La Liga travels this term (W3, D1).