Villarreal vs Real Madrid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2025-03-14 17:30.
[p]Villarreal’s six-match unbeaten streak came to an abrupt end last week as they were beaten 1-0 by Alavés despite their opponents eventually being reduced to nine men. Marcelino’s side hit 24 shots and accumulated 2.64 xG in that defeat, but the Yellow Submarine were left with ground to make up to the top four, which they trail by five points pre-round.[/p]
[p]They retain a game in hand, but a significant challenge awaits here as defending champions Real Madrid visit Estadio de la Cerámica. Villarreal have won just five of their 12 home league matches this term (D5, L2), but they have risen to the challenge of this fixture in recent years, avoiding defeat in the last seven La Liga H2Hs on their own turf (W1, D6).[/p]
[p]Villarreal are the only team Real Madrid have failed to beat on the road in La Liga since 2017/18, and Carlo Ancelotti’s men will have to overcome fatigue to correct that after a gruelling UEFA Champions League tie in midweek. Los Blancos went all the way to penalties to eliminate Atlético Madrid on Wednesday night, progressing in controversial fashion after Atleti had a spot-kick ruled out for a double touch.[/p]
[p]Focus now returns to their La Liga title defence, with Real beginning the weekend level on points with Barcelona having played a game more. Keeping pace with the in-form leaders will require Los Blancos to improve their recent fortunes on the road as they have failed to win any of their last three away league matches (D1, L2) – they last went four such fixtures without victory in May 2019 under Zinedine Zidane.[/p]
[p]Key battle: Midfield maestro Dani Parejo has assisted a career-high seven La Liga goals against Real Madrid, but he has gone 11 league H2Hs without a goal involvement. He will have to keep an eye on Federico Valverde, who was on target in Wednesday’s penalty shootout and put in a man-of-the-match performance in the reverse fixture, scoring and assisting in a 2-0 win.[/p]
[p]Hot streak: Real Madrid have scored at least twice in each of the last five competitive H2Hs.[/p]
[p][i]Written by Ryan Fisher[/i][/p]