La Liga
Villarreal vs Real Madrid Preview
Real Madrid will visit 18th placed Villarreal on Thursday in the Estadio de la Ceramica. Interestingly, the match was supposed to take place in 2018. However, Los Blanco’s involvement in the Club World Cup saw it pushed it back, making it the first game of La Liga in the new year.
At the moment, Villarreal are spiraling domestically. The Valencian club has only one win in it’s previous eleven La Liga matches. Consequently, head coach Luis Garcia will be hoping to turn over a new leaf in 2019. Getting a good result against Madrid would make a great start for the former defender.
Team News
Currently, the Yellow Submarine is without Bruno Soriano and Manuel Iturra due to injury. Team captain Mario Gaspar is unavailable while serving a suspension. Elsewhere, Santi Cazorla is expected to return with the experienced Spaniard being rested last match.
The former Arsenal man may also be accompanied in the lineup by Samuel Chukwueze. The Nigerian teenager – a target of the London club as well – currently has six goals in all competitions. As a result, Garcia may look to the young winger for goals against their visitors.
The Spanish giants are also without several players with Mariano, Marco Asensio and Marcos Llorente all out with various injuries. Fortunately for head coach Santiago Solari, midfielder Casemiro and defender Nacho are back to full health.
Whereas the loss of Llorente for this match is unfortunate. Solari will be content to avoid having to choose between the Spaniard and Casemiro. Llorente has been excellent in the defensive midfielder position during the Brazilian’s absence and is deserving of more minutes.
Lineups and Prediction
Villarreal: Asenjo; Ruiz, Funes Mori, Alvaro, Costa; Chukwueze, Cazorla, Trigueros, Fornals; Moreno, Bacca
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Lucas
Despite the home side’s abysmal form, a close match is likely. Real Madrid are bound to be rusty following their return from holiday and have only one win in their previous four meetings against Villarreal.
Although being a formidable opponent in recent meetings, the home side normally boasts better results on the road against their illustrious visitors. At home, they are without a win against the whites since 2015.
Likewise, last year’s edition of this fixture saw them draw 2-2 at home while defeating Zinedine Zidane’s champions 1-0 in the Bernabeu. Thursday’s match should be no exception to the trend.
Expect Lucas Vasquez to get on the score sheet once again in a narrow victory for Solari’s men. Effectually putting pressure on Sevilla and Atletico who play each other on the weekend.
To say nothing of condemning Garcia’s men to another week in the relegation zone and a rough start to 2019.
Photo credit to Soi kèo Ngon via Flickr
