Real Madrid vs Villarreal Predictions, Betting Tips, and Match Preview
All eyes will be on the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium as league leaders Real Madrid will be working towards clinching their 34th La Liga title as they welcome fifth-place Villarreal on Thursday. Both sets of fans will turn on their TVs at 19:00 GMT hoping both players will do their best to secure the precious three points for their side.
Zinedine Zidane and his men are going into this title-clincher following a narrow 2-1 victory against Granada on Monday. Real took an early lead with a thunderbolt courtesy of Ferland Mendy. Their top scorer Karim Benzema then doubled the lead for his side six minutes later. Granada tried to pull off a comeback as Darwin Marchis put his side back in it in the 50th minute. This wasn’t enough as Real’s defence held on picking up another massive three points.
Villarreal, on the other hand, has been thriving since project restart with a record of six wins from nine games. This form has catapulted them from eight to fifth place toppling Valencia, Getafe and Real Sociedad in the process. One of those losses came last time out against Real Sociedad who are currently seventh in the table. The match looked in the balance up until the 61st minute when William Jose put his side in front. Diego Llorente doubled his side’s lead 14 minutes later. It wasn’t until the 85th minute Villarreal had their name on the scoresheet, something they haven’t had a problem with since the restart. This, however, wasn’t enough as Real Sociedad managed to hold on to a 2-1 lead collecting all the spoils.
In reverse match earlier in the season, the Yellow Submarine held the Los Blancos to a 2-2 draw. They would be hoping players like Santi Carzola and Gerard Moreno manage to replicate the same performance they pulled off at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Thursday’s game.
Zinedine Zidane is expected to field the same backline he did on Monday consisting of Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Ferland Mendy and Dani Carvajal. This back four had proved to be his most important asset as they have conceded the least amount of goals in the league shipping only 22 goals all campaign. Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze is expected to be in the starting eleven since he didn’t play the full 90 minutes last weekend. Gerard Moreno and Vincente Iborra are both available following one-match bans.
Real Madrid vs Villarreal Prediction
Real Madrid will be coming into this one with their eyes on the prize as a win is needed to snatch the title from rivals Barcelona. The match on Thursday is expected to be an uphill battle for the hosts but they will most likely pick up the three points and secure their second La Liga title since 2012.
