Real Madrid looks to rebound from their first defeat since January when they host third-placed Villarreal in a crucial La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side, currently second in the table and three points behind leaders Barcelona, suffered a 1-0 loss to Lille in the Champions League midweek. The defeat ended Real’s unbeaten run across all competitions since January.
“We need to show character and resilience after the Lille setback,” Ancelotti said in his pre-match press conference. “Villarreal is a quality side, but playing at home, we expect to get back to winning ways.”
Real Madrid remains unbeaten in La Liga this season, with their last league loss dating back to September 2023 against Atletico Madrid. However, they’ve won only one of their last six league encounters with Villarreal.
Villarreal, under manager Marcelino, has made an impressive start to the season, sitting just one point behind Real Madrid in third place. The Yellow Submarine boasts the joint-second best attacking record in La Liga with 17 goals scored.
“We’re coming to the Bernabeu with confidence, but we’re under no illusions about the challenge,” Marcelino told reporters. “Real Madrid, even after a loss, remains one of the best teams in the world.”
Real Madrid will be without goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois due to a hip injury, with Andriy Lunin set to deputize. Kylian Mbappe, who made a quicker-than-expected return from injury as a substitute against Lille, is likely to start.
Villarreal faces potential absences of their own, with top scorer Ayoze Perez a major doubt for the clash. The visitors will also be missing Gerard Moreno and Juan Foyth due to fitness concerns.
As Real Madrid aims to keep pace with Barcelona at the top of La Liga and Villarreal seeks to cement their place in the top four, Saturday’s match promises to be a compelling encounter between two of Spain’s top sides.
