Real Madrid look to preserve their perfect Bernabéu La Liga record this term against Villarreal, who were building momentum prior to the international break.
Match News and Current Form
Not since 2014/15 have Real Madrid lost two of their first seven league games in a campaign (W5), dampening some of the hype surrounding José Mourinho’s much-heralded return. They went into the international break in fourth place, already six points behind leaders Barcelona, with little margin for further slip-ups as they move towards the first El Clásico of the season later this month. At least there’s nothing wrong with their form at the Bernabéu, where Los Blancos have won their last six La Liga games, scoring four times in each of the last four, a feat they last achieved in February 2016.
It took Villarreal a while to get going under new head coach Iñigo Pérez before the international break interrupted their momentum, having recorded a pair of 3-1 wins in their final two games (W2, D2, L3). They’ve amassed the league’s third-highest pre-matchday xG value (16.5) therein, which shines a light on their defence as the reason for why they’ve struggled, and a failure to keep a La Liga clean sheet this season supports that. Stopping that defensive rot on the road is likely to be a major challenge for the Yellow Submarine, as their last La Liga away shutout came 11 matches ago, a feat which has contributed to them collecting just one win from their last seven such fixtures (D4, L2).
Head-to-Head History
Madrid have won each of the last four H2Hs and are unbeaten across the last six (W5, D1). Villarreal have lost more away La Liga games against Madrid (W2, D6, L18) than against any other opponent.
Hot Stats and Streaks
Six of Real Madrid’s seven La Liga games this season produced an odd number of goals.
Madrid opened the scoring in each of their last seven home league fixtures.
Pérez is winless in managerial La Liga H2Hs against Madrid (D3, L2), although he’s yet to go six such matches without victory against any side.
Villarreal’s last four away league matches produced an average of 5.25 yellow cards per game.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Jude Bellingham returns to Madrid after producing five goal contributions during the international break (G1, A4) - each of his last four club goals arrived before half-time. Alberto Moleiro has four goal contributions across Villarreal’s last two fixtures (G2, A2), with four of his last five goals coming between half-time and the 65th minute.
Madrid are short defensively as Dean Huijsen is suspended, while Raúl Asencio and Ferland Mendy are injured. Villarreal are likely to be without Tajon Buchanan after he suffered a hamstring injury on international duty.
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Betting Analysis
Madrid’s superb home form and H2H record are compelling, but their defensive absences and Villarreal’s attacking threat make Madrid to win and both teams to score an appealing option.
Author: John Pennington