SM
Watford vs. Leeds: 8 hrs 8 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
VL
La Liga | Gameweek 10
Nov 21, 2020 at 3.15pm UK
Estadio El Madrigal
RM

Villarreal
1 - 1
Real Madrid

Moreno (76' pen.)
Pino (90+1')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Mariano (2')
Nacho (68'), Kroos (90+3')

Preview: Villarreal vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: Villarreal vs. Real Madrid - prediction, team news, lineups: ID:422915: from db_amp
Sports Mole previews Saturday's La Liga clash between Villarreal and Real Madrid, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

Real Madrid will be looking to return to winning ways in Spain's top flight when they continue their 2020-21 campaign away to Villarreal on Saturday afternoon.

Los Blancos suffered a 4-1 defeat to Valencia before the international break to drop to fourth position in the table, two positions and two points behind Villarreal, who have made an excellent start to 2020-21.


Match preview

Villarreal finished fifth in La Liga last season, but the early indications are that the Yellow Submarine are more than capable of challenging for a top-four position in 2020-21.

Unai Emery's side have been extremely impressive in the league this term, picking up 18 points from their nine matches to sit second in the table, just two points behind leaders Real Sociedad.

Villarreal are currently on a four-game winning run in all competitions, including a 3-1 success at Getafe before the international break, while they have also been impressive in the Europa League.

Indeed, El Submarino Amarillo have won all three of their games this term against Sivasspor, Qarabag and Maccabi Tel Aviv to rise to the top of Group I, already well on course for the knockout round.

Emery's team will be looking to pick up another impressive result this weekend, and the fact that Madrid are likely to be missing a number of important players could hand them a huge chance to triumph.

Madrid, meanwhile, are currently fourth in Spain's top flight, having picked up 16 points from their eight matches at the start of the 2020-21 campaign.

Los Blancos picked up two strong wins over Barcelona and Huesca towards the end of October but suffered a heavy 4-1 loss at Valencia just before the international break.

The reigning champions are entering a vital period of the season as two of their next three league matches after this one are against Sevilla and Atletico Madrid, while they also have key Champions League fixtures away to Inter Milan and Shakhtar Donetsk on the horizon.

Zinedine Zidane's side are still in a strong position in Spain's top flight despite their issues in the opening weeks, but they are likely to face a very tough examination by Villarreal this weekend.

Madrid have not actually beaten the Yellow Submarine away from home in La Liga since February 2017, although the capital giants have been victorious in two of the last three fixtures between the two sides.

Villarreal La Liga form: WDWDWW
Villarreal form (all competitions): WDWWWW

Real Madrid La Liga form: WWLWWL
Real Madrid form (all competitions): LWDWWL


Team News

Villarreal will again be without the services of Jaume Costa, Juan Foyth and Alberto Moreno through injury, but the Yellow Submarine are otherwise in good shape in terms of absentees.

There is every chance that Emery could decide to select the same XI that took to the field against Getafe before the international break, with fit-again Gerard Moreno joining Paco Alcacer and Moi Gomez in attack.

Alfonso Pedraza should also keep his spot at left-back despite Pervis Estupinan's return from injury, while Francis Coquelin is likely to start on the bench with Dani Parejo featuring alongside Vicente Iborra and Manu Trigueros as part of a midfield three.

Madrid, meanwhile, have received some good news on the coronavirus front, with Eder Militao, Eden Hazard and Casemiro all now testing negative for the virus, although Luka Jovic has since returned a positive rest.

Militao, Hazard and Casemiro, in theory, should be available this weekend, while Dani Carvajal, Alvaro Odriozola and Nacho have all overcome recent injuries and are expected to be in the squad.

Sergio Ramos is set to miss out with the hamstring problem that he picked up while representing Spain, though, and Raphael Varane faces a late fitness test on a shoulder issue.

Federico Valverde is definitely out with a shin problem, but Karim Benzema has trained after suffering a groin injury against Valencia before the international break, and the striker could be fit enough to start.

Martin Odegaard is also available after making his return from injury against Los Che, but Luka Modric is expected to join Casemiro and Toni Kroos in the middle of the park.

Villarreal possible starting lineup:
Asenjo; Gaspar, Albiol, Torres, Pedraza; Trigueros, Iborra, Parejo; Moreno, Alcacer, Gomez

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Mendy; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Vinicius, Benzema, Asensio


We say: Villarreal 2-2 Real Madrid

Madrid's injury problems are far from ideal, and they will be coming up against a Villarreal side full of confidence. We are finding it difficult to back the champions to win taking everything into consideration and have therefore backed an entertaining and relatively high-scoring draw on Saturday afternoon.


Top betting tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting a double chance bet on a home win or an away win in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Home/Away:data



amp_article__422915 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2020-11-20 17:04:12:
html db last update - 2021-03-11 12:14:33 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html
Read more!
Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Real Madrid29226164204472
2Barcelona29197360342664
3GironaGirona29195559342562
4Athletic Bilbao29168550262456
5Atletico MadridAtletico29174854342055
6Real Sociedad291210742311146
7Real BetisBetis29101273433142
8Valencia28117103232040
9Villarreal29108114751-438
10Getafe2991193742-538
11Las PalmasLas Palmas29107122932-337
12Osasuna29106133343-1036
13AlavesAlaves2988132635-932
14Mallorca29612112535-1030
15Rayo Vallecano29611122538-1329
16Sevilla29610133644-828
17Celta Vigo2969143244-1227
18CadizCadiz29313132040-2022
19Granada2828183058-2814
20Almeria29110182857-2913
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .