The usual, old, Real Madrid. The players come and go but the feeling between the Madrid club and the big-eared cup is something inexplicable. Carlo Ancelotti’s team emerged victorious in the Champions League last 16 second leg at the Metropolitano against city rivals Atletico Madrid, winning out in a penalty shootout just as they did in the 2016 final at the San Siro.
So the quarter-finalists are the Blancos – who will have to face Arsenal – who, despite losing 1-0 (they won the first leg 2-1), won on penalties, also taking advantage of the sensational penalty “cancelled” after a VAR review to Julian Alvarez for having touched the ball with both feet when shooting. Ancelotti, who at the end of the game also mentioned that his men were very tired due to the long and grueling tour de force, will now ask the team for one last effort before the two-week break for national team commitments.
The fight for the Liga title is still very close and every little mistake can make the difference: Real Madrid are at the top of the table with 57 points, the same as Barcelona, who, however, have a game in hand.
Not forgetting that Atletico Madrid are hot on their heels, just one point behind their cousins. However, there are many pitfalls in the match at the Estadio de la Ceramica with Villarreal, and not only because the Blancos will travel to the Comunitat Valenciana drained of energy. We’re talking about the fifth-placed team in the tournament, which was unbeaten for six games before surprisingly losing 1-0 to Alavés last week in Vitoria. Marcelino, already without Gerard Moreno and Akhomach, is struggling with the doubt over Femenia, while we expect Ancelotti to make significant changes after the 120 minutes at the Metropolitano.
Odds comparison
The “Goal” sign is quoted at 1.40 on Goldbet, Lottomatica and Snai. The “Over 2.5” sign is quoted at 1.45 on Goldbet, Lottomatica and Snai.
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The prediction
Villarreal are a team that, despite conceding a lot (they have the worst defense in the top 8 of La Liga), score with a certain consistency. It is therefore likely that they will be able to score at least one goal against an enthusiastic Real Madrid who are coming off a very expensive match in the Champions League. Both should score.
The probable line-ups for Villarreal-Real Madrid
VILLARREAL (4-4-2): Conde; Foyth, Kambwala, Logan Costa, Cardona; Yeremi Pino, Gueye, Parejo, Baena; Barry, Ayoze Perez.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Courtois; Vazquez, Raul Asencio, Rudiger, F. Garcia; Valverde, Camavinga, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappé, Vinicius Jr.
POSSIBLE RESULT: 2-2