Villarreal vs. Real Madrid: Team News, Predicted Lineups, Live Stream, TV Info
The recovery mission had officially started two weeks earlier, but Tuesday night marked the point when it was taken up a notch—given momentum.
In thrashing Malmo 8-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu, Real Madrid looked just the way Real Madrid should, for perhaps the first time in months: powerful, relentless and full of swagger.
The Swedes were dreadful, yes, but it was the way Madrid made them dreadful and exposed their deficiencies with such brutality that was notable. Instead of leaning so heavily on talent alone, they trusted work rate; instead of playing 45 minutes, they played 90; instead of looking like an assortment of players, they looked like a unit.
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In doing so, Madrid gave themselves a template. Implementing it again and again is now the challenge, starting with Sunday's trip to El Madrigal.
For Real Madrid, this fixture with Villarreal carries intriguing possibilities. Win it, and Rafa Benitez's men will have won six straight in all competitions since the Clasico debacle, giving their recovery effort further impetus; lose it—which is entirely possible—and the whole effort is derailed. Drawing it might have the same effect.
These are tricky opponents, too.
Last season, Villarreal were one of only three teams in the league who took something away from the Bernabeu, and although Los Blancos claimed a 2-0 victory at El Madrigal, it required a heroic defensive effort against a side who looked a lot like, well, them.
Indeed, one of things about Marcelino's team is that they attack space in a very Real Madrid manner. Not obsessed with ball control, Villarreal thrive in transitions by running in three, four and sometimes five-man waves when they win possession. In the Spanish sense of the word, they're as direct as they come—a quality that's troubled Madrid, given that the capital-based club has won only two of its last five against El Submarino Amarillo.
Still, though, Marcelino isn't without his own concerns. Despite a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano last time out in the league, Villarreal's recent form has been indifferent, exemplified by an uncharacteristic 3-3 draw in midweek with Viktoria Plzen. "If we defend like that against Real Madrid they might put seven past us," the manager said afterward.
Real Madrid can expect a response, though.
Real Madrid can expect a fight.
Match Details
Date: Sunday, December 13
Time: 7:30 p.m. GMT/2:30 p.m. EST/8:30 p.m. local
Venue: El Madrigal, Villarreal, Spain
TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), beIN Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports CONNECT (U.S.)
Form Lines
| D: 3-3 vs. Viktoria Plzen | W: 8-0 vs. Malmo |
| W: 2-1 vs. Rayo Vallecano | W: 4-1 vs. Getafe |
| L: 2-3 vs. Huesca | W: 3-1 vs. Cadiz |
| L: 0-2 vs. Getafe | W: 2-0 vs. Eibar |
| W: 1-0 vs. Rapid Wien | W: 4-3 vs. Shakhtar Donetsk |
| D: 1-1 vs. Eibar | L: 0-4 vs. Barcelona |
Team News
For the hosts, full-backs Jaume Costa and Bojan Jokic are both expected to miss this clash, having picked up injuries in the last week, while the versatile Mario will also be missing.
Consequently, the rarely used Adrian Marin and Antonio Rukavina could flank Eric Bailly and Victor Ruiz in Marcelino's back four, while the ongoing shuffle with the team's wide attackers could continue, opening opportunities for Denis Suarez and Jonathan dos Santos to return after starting on the bench in midweek.
Up front, however, the consistent pairing of Roberto Soldado and Cedric Bakambu will continue.
For Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos is fit again and should slot in alongside Pepe at the heart of Benitez's defence. After getting just over half an hour of playing time against Malmo, Marcelo is also expected to return at left-back, while Keylor Navas will take the gloves back off Kiko Casilla.
In midfield, both Luka Modric and Toni Kroos will most likely come back in after sitting out on Tuesday, and Isco is also available again after suspension, but he might have to settle for a place on the bench. Gareth Bale is back, too.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
Toni Kroos' most recent performance against Getafe was perhaps his best of the season. After a rather torrid stretch, the return of the real Kroos was a welcome one for Real Madrid. The smooth, efficient, game-controlling Kroos.
Yet, Getafe are hardly the sort of opponents capable of probing the German's weaknesses as a holding midfielder.
Villarreal are, though.
With their primary strength being the way they break into space in numbers, Villarreal will eye the one-paced Kroos at the base of Madrid's midfield as the man to target. To press, harass and blow by.
In the corresponding fixture last season, the former Bayern Munich star battled to deal with that intensity. To negate Villarreal's biggest threat, he'll need to be capable of doing so this time.
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Villarreal: 4-1
Draw: 16-5
Real Madrid: 13-20
