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Villarreal are in the midst of a difficult run of form, while Real Madrid have delivered a series of positive league results in recent weeks.
The Yellow Submarine have lost five of their last seven matches, with three of these defeats coming on home soil.
Last Saturday's defeat to Real Betis and a midweek Champions League setback won't have helped confidence levels amongst Marcelino García Toral's men, who have struggled against Real Madrid in recent seasons.
In stark contrast, Real Madrid are flying following a sequence of four consecutive LaLiga victories and a return of seven wins from their last nine outings across all competitions.
Los Blancos have also been extremely reliable on the road this term, suffering just one away defeat in the league so far.
With Vinícius Júnior back to his imperious best and the gap to league leaders Barcelona closing to just one point, Álvaro Arbeloa's side will be in buoyant spirits heading into Saturday's contest.
Predictions for Villarreal vs. Real Madrid
Real Madrid HT/FT: 21/10 (bet365)
Over 10.5 Shots on Target: 5/6 (bet365)
Over 3.5 Goals: 11/10 (bet365)
Odds provided by bet365. Correct at the time of publication and subject to change.
Madrid always deliver
Real Madrid seem to always be able to find the net during key phases of the game. They are the only team in LaLiga this season to have won every match after scoring the opening goal, a clear sign of their ability to both preserve and extend an early lead.
Los Blancos once again demonstrated their immense attacking qualities on Tuesday evening, thumping six goals past Monaco in a dazzling Champions League performance.
Meanwhile, Villarreal are currently navigating a fragile spell. With several recent poor results at the forefront of their mind, don't be surprised if the visitors suffer a couple of lapses in concentration against a relentless Real Madrid outfit.
The likes of Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé will be ready to pounce on any mistakes from the get-go, so don't be surprised if the hosts dominate this one from the get-go.
Prediction: Real Madrid HT/FT: 21/10 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet will land if Real Madrid are leading at half-time before going on to win the match.
Chance-fest at La Cerámica
This is a match-up between two of the most dangerous counter-attacking teams in the Spanish top-flight. Villarreal and Real Madrid are amongst the sides that generate the highest number of attacking transitions, and often deliver a clinical finish to these moves.
These similarly expansive styles should produce an open contest, so we can expect to see plenty of goalscoring opportunities on Saturday evening.
Villarreal desperately require points to remain in the title race and therefore can't afford to sit back, while Real Madrid are always eager to plough forward in numbers.
With a series of talented attackers - such as Gerard Moreno, Jude Bellingham, and the aforementioned Kylian Mbappé - all expected to feature, it’s likely we'll see a bountiful supply of goal-bound attempts at the Estadio de la Cerámica.
Prediction: Over 10.5 Shots on Target: 5/6 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if there is a combined total of more than ten shots on target during the match.
Goals galore
Real Madrid have been involved in plenty of high-scoring affairs of late, with three of their last four away matches concluding in the same 3-2 scoreline.
Los Blancos have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their most recent eight visits to the province of Valencia, suggesting there may be degree of defensive vulnerability that Villarreal can exploit.
It's worth noting that five of the last seven meetings between these two opponents have produced four or more goals, with both teams scoring in six of these contests.
With two title challengers battling for three invaluable La Liga points, there's no reason why we won't see another goal-laden, end-to-end contest this time around.
Prediction: Over 3.5 Goals: 11/10 (bet365)
Explanation: This bet lands if four or more goals are scored during the match.
Villarreal v Real Madrid - Match Result odds
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Odds correct at the time of publication and may change.