Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
Villarreal are sitting fifth in La Liga, just five points off the Champions League spots. Their home form has been solid, losing just once in their last nine matches at the Estadio de la Cerámica. Meanwhile, Real Madrid remain in the title race, but after a gruelling 120-minute Champions League clash with Atlético Madrid, fatigue could play a factor. Real Madrid haven’t won in their last seven visits to Villarreal.
Villarreal
Last week’s shock 0:1 defeat to Alavés, despite playing the final 30 minutes with a man advantage, ended their six-match unbeaten run. However, their home attack has been prolific, scoring in each of their last 12 home matches. Ayoze Pérez has been particularly impressive, sitting sixth in the La Liga scoring charts with 11 goals. The defensive side, however, remains shaky—their two goalkeepers have combined for just three clean sheets across 26 games.
Real Madrid
Real Madrid have only two wins in their last six league matches, with defensive lapses becoming a concern—they have conceded in five of those games, including against Espanyol (0:1), a side battling relegation. However, their attack remains one of the best in Spain, with 57 goals scored (second only to Barcelona). Kylian Mbappé has been in top form, netting eight times since the turn of the year, pushing him to second in the La Liga Golden Boot race (18 goals).
Villarreal vs Real Madrid Prediction
Real Madrid will likely arrive in a fatigued state after their Champions League war with Atlético Madrid, and their poor record at Villarreal raises concerns. Both teams have strong attacking options and a tendency to concede, with “Both Teams to Score” landing in their last eight head-to-head meetings. Expect another high-scoring battle.
