Real Madrid vs Villarreal – Match preview and team news | OneFootball

Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back from their disappointing Madrid derby defeat when they host an in-form Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday evening.

Los Blancos suffered a humiliating 5-2 loss to Atlético Madrid last weekend, their first defeat of the season, which allowed Barcelona to move to the top of La Liga.

With both teams sitting in the top three positions, this promises to be an intriguing encounter as Real Madrid seek to return to winning ways on home soil.

Real Madrid vs Villarreal – Match Preview and Team News

Real Madrid team news

Real Madrid face an injury crisis ahead of this crucial fixture. Dani Carvajal will be sidelined for approximately one month after picking up a muscular injury during the Atlético defeat. The club will also be without Trent Alexander-Arnold, who suffered a hamstring injury just minutes into his Champions League debut against Marseille on September 16. The England international is expected to be out for six to eight weeks, though there are suggestions he could return earlier than anticipated, potentially after the international break.

Antonio Rudiger is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a muscular problem that will keep him out for approximately three months. Ferland Mendy remains unavailable due to a thigh injury that ended his 2024/25 campaign. Éder Militão is listed as a minor doubt with an ankle injury sustained against Atlético, though he could feature against Villarreal.

On a positive note, Kylian Mbappé has been in excellent form recently, scoring a hat-trick in Real Madrid’s emphatic 5-0 Champions League victory over Kairat Almaty on Tuesday. The French forward has netted 13 goals this season and will be crucial to Madrid’s attacking threat.

Jude Bellingham was included in the starting XI for the first time this season against Atlético after recovering from shoulder surgery over the summer, though he appeared to still be finding his rhythm. The England midfielder will be looking to recapture the form that made him such a key player last season.

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Villarreal team news

Villarreal arrive at the Bernabéu in excellent form, having secured three consecutive LaLiga victories. The Yellow Submarine most recently defeated Athletic Club 1-0 and managed a creditable 2-2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Gerard Moreno continues his recovery from a hamstring injury and remains a doubt. Juan Foyth remains sidelined with a muscle injury and won’t be available until late October. Ayoze Pérez is out with an adductor problem, while Willy Kambwala is also unavailable through injury.

Despite these absences, Villarreal have shown impressive depth, with Alberto Moleiro and Ilias Akhomach stepping up effectively in recent matches when there was a requirement. Tajon Buchanan has also been in good form and scored three league goals.

Form

Real Madrid: WWWLW

Despite their recent setback against Atlético, Real Madrid have shownstrong form aside from the derby defeat. The 5-0 Champions League victory over Kairat provided the perfect response, with Mbappé’s hat-trick highlighting the team’s attacking potential. Los Blancos have scored 16 goals in seven La Liga matches this season, demonstrating their offensive prowess.

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Villarreal: LWWWD

Marcelino García Toral’s side have been one of the most consistent teams in La Liga this season. After winning three consecutive league matches, including impressive victories over Sevilla (2-1 away) and Athletic Club (1-0), they managed to secure a valuable point against Juventus in Europe. The Yellow Submarine currently sit third in La Liga with 16 points from seven matches.

Predicted lineups

Real Madrid: Courtois; Carreras, Asencio, Huijsen, García; Valverde, Tchouaméni, Bellingham; Guler, Mbappé, Vinícius

Villarreal: Luiz Júnior; Mourino, Marin, Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Gueye, Partey, Moleiro; Pepe, Mikautadze

How to watch Real Madrid vs Villarreal?

UK fans can stream the match live on Disney+ as part of their LaLiga coverage.

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