HP Terbaru 2023 – Madrid take on third placed Villarreal with one target in mind

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By Neel Shelat

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Goals galore in recent meetings

Villarreal have consistently been one of the most entertaining teams in LaLiga in recent seasons. They have been among the league’s top three scorers for three straight campaigns, and have not dropped out of the top five since 2019/20. Unsurprisingly, then, they have partaken in a few goal-fests against a Real Madrid side that hasn’t always been the most defensively solid.

33 goals have been scored in these teams’ last seven meetings, the most dramatic of which was an eight-goal draw in May 2024. Their styles of play, strengths and weaknesses haven’t changed a great deal since then, so another high-scoring affair may well be in the offing.

Real Madrid’s opportunity to build pressure on Barcelona

Although Real Madrid changed coaches very recently, they remain firmly in the title race. In fact, they are now just a point off the top following Barcelona’s loss to Real Sociedad last weekend.

Los Blancos have a favourable run of fixtures coming up after this one; their next match against a team in the current top six is about two months away when they host a Madrid derby. So, winning this match will be crucial for Álvaro Arbeloa’s side as they seek to keep the pressure on the defending champions.

Team news

Both sides are depleted in the defensive department for this match.

Real Madrid have been plagued with injury issues at the back all season, and they will have to continue contending with them for the time being. A full back four of Éder Militão, Antonio Rüdiger, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ferland Mendy are currently on the treatment table. Worse yet, defensive midfielder Aurélien Tchouaméni is also out through a yellow card suspension.

Villarreal have been without centre-back Willy Kambwala all season due to an ACL injury, while Santiago Mouriño will miss this game through suspension. The hosts will also have to make do without a midfielder in Santi Comesaña, who saw red in last weekend’s match against Real Betis.

Rodrygo has not featured in Real Madrid’s last few matches after the Super Cup, and although he has now returned to training, his participation in this fixture remains doubtful.

Team News

Despite contending with some niggles around the turn of the year, Kylian Mbappé’s incredible form has not slowed down at all. With support from a seemingly rejuvenated Vinícius Júnior, he could well add to his season’s tally of 33 goals.

Villarreal’s top three scorers combined have fewer league goals than Mbappé this season, but that is not to diminish their threat. Alberto Moleiro is a silky operator as he likes to drift inside from the left wing, while Georgian striker Georges Mikautadze offers clever movement ahead of him. This duo will likely cause problems for a weakened Real Madrid back line.

Prediction

An entertaining match is to be expected, so both sides should be backed to score. In the end, Real Madrid might just have the individual quality to come away with all three points.

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(Cover image from IMAGO)

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