Preview: Gareth Bale set to illuminate the Yellow Submarine’s stadium
Villarreal and Real Madrid are two of the four teams with a 100 per cent run in the Spanish La Liga this season. If they are only third and fourth respectively on the league table behind leaders Barcelona and second-placed Atletico Madrid, it is simply a matter of goal difference.
The Yellow Submarine endured hard times in the 2011/12 season and got relegated. They have since come out of the dark and seen the light, clinching promotion back to La Liga. So far, they are doing well under coach Marcelino Garcia Toral.
They came out victorious from a five-goal thriller away to Almeria on Matchday 1 of the league. Villarreal then offered a 2-1 win to their home crowd by making of Valladolid their victims. Before September’s international break, they amazed the public with a beautiful performance away to Osasuna which resulted in a 3-0 win.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have yet to showcase their full potential this season but with the arrival of Gareth Bale, travelling fans will be expecting explosions from Los Blancos at El Madrigal.
The Welshman will probably not feature for the full 90 minutes but, like Cristiano Ronaldo did in 2009, he will make his Real Madrid debut against the Yellow Submarine of Villarreal. Confirming this news on Friday was Carlo Ancelotti who said:
“Bale has no injury concerns. He is feeling fine, he is excited and feeling motivated to play. He will travel with the team and play against Villarreal. I have to decide whether that is in the first or second half.”
Earlier this week, the Spanish capital-based club unveiled their third 2013/14 kit which they will wear in the UEFA Champions League. In the meantime, the focus is on Saturday’s away fixture against Villarreal in La Liga. Can they keep their perfect record?
Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels, live scores
In UK at 21:00 BST on: Sky Sports 2/HD, Sky Go
In USA at 16:00 ET on: SiriusXM FC, beIN Sport Play, beIN Sport en Español, beIN Sport USA
Al Jazeera Sports will carry the match live on two channels in the Middle East. Check out DIRECTV in Latin America. For the full listings, please visit the Villarreal-Real Madrid match page. Live scores will be available on LiveSoccerTV’s homepage and the Spanish La Liga competition page.
