When Actual Madrid and Villarreal confronted off earlier this season, the sport turned out to be a controversial one the place the Yellow Submarines had been handed a crimson card late within the recreation, which helped Los Blancos ship the ultimate blow quickly after.
The sport was far nearer than the 3-1 scoreline suggests, and Los Blancos have to be ready for an equally, if no more gruelling problem, on Saturday night time as they face the identical opposition at Villarreal.
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Actual Madrid have received one in every of their final eight video games and two of their final ten video games on the Estadio de la Ceramica, and it has clearly been one in every of their most troublesome venues to beat over time.
As they put together for tomorrow’s conflict, Alvaro Arbeloa’s males will look to place the historical past behind them and proceed profitable on the venue after breaking the curse final season.
Madrid Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Villarreal vs Actual Madrid.
A conflict between two leaders
Barcelona’s slip-up in opposition to Actual Sociedad final weekend minimize the league title race tighter and handed Actual Madrid some much-needed floor to make up for.
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Heading into matchday 21, Los Blancos are firmly in second place, only one level off the leaders Barcelona who’ve 49 factors. They’re, nevertheless, adopted not too far off by Villarreal.
Can Alvaro Arbeloa’s Actual Madrid ship but once more? (Photograph by Angel Martinez/Getty Photographs)
The Yellow Submarines have loved a powerful season to date, and notably actually have a recreation in hand. Ought to they win that conflict, they are going to transfer as much as 44 factors and can simply be 4 factors behind Actual Madrid.
Tomorrow’s recreation away in opposition to Villarreal, thus, is an enormous one when it comes to the league title race because it sees two of the highest three groups within the standings face off. Lots will likely be at stake.
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A win over Villarreal is not going to solely assist Actual Madrid put the strain on Barcelona because the non permanent leaders but in addition function an enormous confidence increase for the dressing room.
A defeat on the Estadio de la Ceramica, nevertheless, will see Villarreal transfer to 44 factors with a recreation in hand, and doubtlessly only one level away from Actual Madrid, together with their recreation in hand.
A skinny defence
The centre-back place has been one which has tormented Actual Madrid for a number of seasons now, and past some extent, it merely appears jinxed. In any case, dealing with so many setbacks in the identical division season after season is unbelievable.
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Over the previous few months, Actual Madrid have once more fallen right into a centre-back disaster that they’ve been struggling to cope with. Eder Militao suffered a severe muscular setback whereas Antonio Rudiger has additionally been unavailable in latest weeks.
Including Dean Huijsen and David Alaba’s unsure health to the aforementioned issues has solely compounded the supervisor’s disaster.
Heading into tomorrow’s conflict, the defence as soon as once more seems skinny. Raul Asencio and Dean Huijsen are certainly , however the latter has not performed recurrently in latest video games regardless of being on the squad, elevating questions on his health.
The one different choice out there is David Alaba, who himself has struggled to stay match this season. Aurelien Tchouameni, the supervisor’s backup centre-back choice, is suspended tomorrow night time.
A number of Actual Madrid stars are out vs Villarreal. (Photograph by Ion Alcoba Beitia/Getty Photographs)
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Arbeloa’s problem on the Ceramica on Saturday, thus, is not going to solely be to discover a working centre-back partnership but in addition rework the midfield to compensate for Tchouameni’s absence – all with a skinny squad.
Can Actual Madrid carry the momentum
Actual Madrid’s 6-1 win over AS Monaco midweek within the UEFA Champions League was the group’s greatest efficiency in a very long time, and each the gamers and the supervisor deserve credit score for a similar.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr had been each at their greatest on the night time, with Jude Bellingham additionally becoming a member of the motion. The group additionally did effectively in defence and thus accomplished among the finest all-round performances of the season.
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Having secured momentum on their aspect in the course of the UCL recreation, Actual Madrid are actually on a uncommon excessive this season. The massive query, nevertheless, is whether or not they can sustain the steam.
Taking up Villarreal, Actual Madrid will want all of the momentum they will get to take all three factors on the night time. Extra importantly, they should win on the Ceramica to get into an excellent move of momentum, one thing that’s essential at this stage of the season.
The one goal on Saturday, thus, will likely be to rack up a 3rd straight win and enhance the dressing room’s morale. In any case, it may effectively be an enormous recreation for the title race.