Real Madrid are aiming to bounce back from their derby defeat when they host Mallorca in a Spanish La Liga fixture on Saturday. The Santiago Bernabeu has been a fortress for Los Blancos lately, while the visitors are looking to improve on their away record.
Real Madrid were stunned in the derby last weekend, falling to a 5-2 defeat to local rivals Atletico Madrid. However, they made a swift return to winning ways in the Champions League, earning a 5-0 triumph at Kairat Almaty.
The derby defeat means Real Madrid have now dropped to second in the La Liga table, one point behind Barcelona. Manager Xabi Alonso will be keen to get things back on track, and Los Blancos have won their last four home matches in all competitions.
Meanwhile, Villarreal are also showing some good form this season and have won their last three La Liga matches. Marcelino's men picked up a 1-0 home victory over Athletic Bilbao last time out before playing out a 2-2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League.
The problem for Bilbao is that they do their best work at home and often struggle on their travels. The visitors are winless in three of their last four away matches in all competitions.
How the bookies view it: Madrid overwhelming favourites
Real Madrid have been installed as overwhelming favourites among the bookies and are priced at 2/5 by BoyleSports to claim the win. A victory for Villarreal is set at odds of 4/1, while a draw is valued at 15/4.
Head to head: Los Blancos have the edge
Real Madrid have a 21-6 advantage, with 16 draws in the last 43 matches against Villarreal. Los Blancos did the double last season, claiming a 2-0 home victory before winning 2-1 in the reverse fixture.
Players to watch: Red hot Mbappe
Kylian Mbappe has been in red-hot form for Real Madrid this season, scoring 14 goals in all competitions already. The forward also scored twice against Villarreal last season and will be the one to watch (Kylian Mbappe anytime goalscorer – priced at 8/13 by BoyleSports).
Villarreal can also hold their own going forward and will look to Nicolas Pepe to provide the spark in attack. The forward has two goals this season and could be worth keeping an eye on (Nicolas Pepe – anytime goalscorer – offered at 5/2).
Provable line-ups:
Real Madrid are without defenders Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold through injury. Mbappe is expected to lead the line once again, while Dean Huijsen is set to continue at the back.
Villarreal also have injury problems, with Juan Foyth, Ayoze Perez and Gerard Moreno among the sidelined players. Pepe and Georges Mikautadze should continue in attack while Renato Veiga is set to feature at the back.
Real Madrid: Courtois, Asensio, Huijsen, Alaba, Garcia, Mastantuono, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Guler, Vinicius, Mbappe
Villarreal: Tenas, Mourino, Marin, Veiga, Pedraza, Buchanan, Parejo, Gueye, Comesana, Pepe, Mikautadze
Anything else catch the eye?
Real Madrid have scored in both halves in four of their last five matches (Real Madrid to score in both halves – available at 10/11 on BoyleSports). The hosts have also won the first half in four of their last six matches (Real Madrid halftime win – set at odds of 10/11).
Real Madrid have won with both teams scoring in two of their last three home matches (Real Madrid win & BTTS YES – values at 6/4).
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