Defending champions Real Madrid will aim to reclaim top spot in La Liga when they travel to take on Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica. Los Blancos will feature in their first league game of 2023 on Saturday while hoping to hit the ground running in the quest to win the competition back-to-back.
As one of La Liga's heavyweights, Villarreal will be expected to give Madrid a good run for their money in the weekend's affair. After a turbulent period in the early days of Quique Setien's arrival as the new head coach, the Yellow Submarines have turned things around and are cruising on cloud 9. The Ceramica outfit is currently unbeaten in five games after failing to win the first four and will be poised to keep the run going.
At the moment, Villarreal are one point behind sixth-placed Real Betis and only three beneath fourth-placed Atletico Madrid. As a result, win over Real Madrid on Saturday would give the hosts the needed boost in the right direction. They will go into the weekend's game on the back of a Copa del Rey win on Tuesday, securing a 5-1 victory over FC Cartagena to progress to the last-16 stage of the competition.
For Real Madrid, the objective will be to extend a record that has been running for the past eight years when they take to the Ceramica on Saturday. Since 2015, Los Blancos have never lost to Villarreal in their backyard, and they will be eager to keep the run going while on the road. The defending champions come into the weekend's clash on the back of an important 2-0 win over Real Valladolid in their first game since the league resumed after the World Cup. Earlier this week, they progressed to the next round of the Copa del Rey by defeating Cacereno by a lone goal.
In La Liga so far, the Meregues boast the best away record this season, picking up 21 points from their eight matches on their travels. Against this backdrop, they will be poised to secure three important points with the hopes of claiming the top spot as Barcelona prepares to battle Atletico Madrid in a classic affair on Sunday.
Villarreal vs Real Madrid head to head record
Villarreal have not beaten Real Madrid in any of their last nine La Liga encounters (D6 L3) since a 1-0 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu in January 2018,. However, both of their most recent two games has ended in stalemates.
Villarreal vs Real Madrid key stats
-
In the past 13 years (W7 D6), Villarreal have not lost their first La Liga game of the season, winning the games in 2020, 2021, and 2022, and last losing 0-1 to Real Madrid in 2009.
-
Real Madrid could lose their first La Liga game of the year in back-to-back seasons after the defeat to Getafe in 2022 (1-0), the first time since losses to CD Alcoyano in 1948 (2-1) and FC Barcelona in 1949 (1-0). (3-1).
-
Villarreal has gone unbeaten in their last 10 games (W5 D5) when playing teams from the Madrid region in La Liga.
Villarreal vs Real Madrid team news
Giovani Lo Celso remains the major injury concern for Villarreal as he still recovers from the leg injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. Also, Francis Coquelin is also set to miss out as he recovers from a foot injury.
For Real Madrid, Thibaut Courtois, Dani Carvajal, and Mariano Diaz are all doubts for going into this game. There are no suspensions for Carlo Ancelotti's side.
Villarreal vs Real Madrid broadcast information
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
