Real Madrid faces a challenging situation as they prepare to host Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night in La Liga. Following a disappointing 5-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid, Xabi Alonso's team is under pressure to regain their footing and secure a win.
The loss against Atletico, where they conceded five goals for the first time in 75 years, has intensified the pressure on the team. This defeat allowed Barcelona to move to the top of the La Liga table, placing Real Madrid just one point behind in second place. Villarreal is closely trailing, only two points behind Real Madrid.
Real Madrid did manage to bounce back with a 5-0 victory against Kairat in the Champions League. However, the long journey to Kazakhstan and back may have taken a toll on the players.
Adding to the tension, reports have emerged about a potential rift between midfielder Fede Valverde and coach Xabi Alonso. Speculation arose after Valverde was an unused substitute in the Champions League match against Kairat. Reports suggested that Valverde was unhappy with Alonso's consideration of using him at right-back due to injuries. Valverde has since issued a statement denying that he refused to play. He affirmed his commitment to the club and dismissed any claims that he would refuse to play in any position.
Real Madrid is dealing with several injuries. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, and Antonio Rudiger are all unavailable for the Villarreal match. However, Eder Militao is expected to return after recovering from an ankle injury. Alonso may opt for a tactical switch to a back-three formation to address the team's defensive issues. Aurelien Tchouameni could potentially drop into the backline. Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga are likely to start, while Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior may form the attacking duo in a 3-4-1-2 formation.
Villarreal, currently third in La Liga, has been in impressive form. They come into this match following a 2-2 draw against Juventus in the Champions League and a winning streak in La Liga. However, they also have injury concerns, with Logan Costa, Willy Kambwala, Juan Foyth, and Pau Cabanes all ruled out. Ayoze Perez and Gerard Moreno are also doubtful for the game.
Real Madrid has a strong record against Villarreal, winning both league games last season. Historically, Real Madrid has dominated the matchup, with 30 wins compared to Villarreal's six in 53 encounters. At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid has won 18 of 26 matches against Villarreal, who have only managed two victories.
Despite Villarreal's strong form and Real Madrid's internal pressures, predictions lean towards a Real Madrid victory. However, given both teams' attacking capabilities, a high-scoring game with both teams finding the net is also anticipated.
