Villarreal vs Real Madrid

Estadio de la Ceramica forms the backdrop for a handsomely-looking La Liga clash between Villarreal and Real Madrid.

Despite attempting 24 shots and generating an impressive 2.64 xG, Villarreal slumped to a gut-wrenching 1-0 defeat at nine-man Deportivo Alaves last weekend, relinquishing a six-game unbeaten league streak (W4, D2). As a result, they started this round five points behind the current top four, highlighting the importance of avenging a 2-0 defeat from October’s reverse fixture. However, Marcelino Garcia Toral’s men have only won five of their 12 home league matches this season (D5, L2), which could undermine their hopes of upsetting the odds here. Yet, ‘El Submarino Amarillo’ can draw heart from avoiding defeat across their last seven top-flight H2Hs against Real Madrid on this ground (W1, D6). 

In the meantime, Real Madrid advanced into the Champions League quarter-finals after a controversial win against Atletico Madrid on penalties, bolstering their spirits ahead of this daunting trip to La Ceramica, where they last won a league fixture in 2017/18. Carlo Ancelotti’s charges must buck that unwanted trend to stay within striking distance of pacesetters Barcelona. Despite sitting level on points with Hansi Flick’s side pre-round, ‘Los Blancos’ have played a game more and can hardly be proud of their five-game league form in the build-up to this contest (W2, D2, L1). Moreover, they’ve not won any of their last three away league games (D2, L1) and could make it four in a row for the first time since 2019.