What a week for Real Madrid! Fresh off their nail-biting penalty shootout win over Atletico in the Champions League Round of 16, Los Blancos are gearing up to face Villarreal on Saturday in a crucial La Liga showdown right before the international break. With Real Madrid and Barça both sitting on 57 points (though Madrid have a game in hand), and Atleti lurking just a point behind, every match is massive at this stage of the season. Meanwhile, on Sunday, right after Madrid’s match, Atlético will host Barcelona in a blockbuster clash. Here’s the scoop:
Team News
Villarreal:
Kiko Femenia is questionable, while Gerard Moreno and Ilias Akhomach remain sidelined and won’t suit up against Real Madrid.
Possible Villarreal XI: Conde; Foyth, Kambwala, Costa, S Cardona; Pino, Gueye, Parejo, Baena; Barry, Perez.
Real Madrid:
With Ferland Mendy out injured, Fran Garcia is set to slot in at left-back. Manager Carlo Ancelotti is expected to roll out his top attacking trio, with Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr. supporting French star Kylian Mbappe.
Possible Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Garcia; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Prediction
All signs point to Real Madrid bagging all three points at the Bernabéu and piling pressure on Barcelona, who battle Atlético on Sunday. Final call: Real Madrid 2, Villarreal 0.
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Author: Alex Benningram
Tech News CITY // New York Newsroom
