Real Madrid hosts Villarreal this Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu in a match that could reshape the top of La Liga. Xabi Alonso’s team is looking to shake off the derby humiliation against Atlético and lean on their Champions League form, while the Yellow Submarine arrives full of confidence and with a chance to leapfrog Madrid in the standings.
Madrid still stung by the derby
The heavy loss to Atlético left more than just three points behind. The way it happened hurt. Beating Kairat in the Champions League gave some breathing room, but in La Liga the margin for error is thin. Madrid sits second on 18 points, one back from Barcelona, and anything but a win could let their rivals open up a gap.
The main headache for Alonso is at the back. Carvajal, Rüdiger, Mendy, and Alexander-Arnold are all sidelined, while Militão remains doubtful. With so many pieces missing, Madrid’s defense looks exposed, something Villarreal will be eager to test.
Villarreal riding momentum
Few teams in Spain are enjoying a better run right now. Villarreal is unbeaten in four, with three straight league wins, and comes into the weekend in third on 16 points. A victory in Madrid would push them ahead of Los Blancos and, depending on Barcelona’s result, even into top spot.
Their midweek Champions League draw with Juventus showed the resilience of Marcelino’s squad. They took the lead, fell behind, and still equalized in stoppage time. That kind of mentality is what they’ll carry into the Bernabéu.
Injuries are still part of the picture, Logan Costa, Cabanes, Kambwala, and Foyth are all out, while Gerard Moreno and Ayoze Pérez remain doubts. Even so, Villarreal has looked steady, confident, and consistent when it matters most. Now they have the chance to turn that momentum into a statement win in Madrid.