On Wednesday, Real Madrid’s players went through huge struggles to qualify for the Champions League quarter-finals. They had to play 120 minutes against city rivals Atletico Madrid and eventually eliminated them only after a penalty shootout. Just three days later, specifically 66 and a half hours later, the Royal Club faces another tough match, an away game against Villarreal in the 28th round of La Liga.🙌 IT’S MATCHDAY! 🙌🆚 @VillarrealCFen🕰 18:30 CET🏟️ Estadio de la Cerámica👉 @HP pic.twitter.com/lfAxM8qZea— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) March 15, 2025 Real Madrid will play this today at 20.30 at one of the hottest away games. Traditionally, the “royal village” has not been favorable for Madrid, having won only once in the last eight matches in Villarreal. That victory came in the Copa del Rey, while they haven’t won in La Liga there since February 2017. So, even if Carlo Ancelotti’s team wasn’t exhausted, today’s match wouldn’t be easy. As it stands, the situation is even worse. Therefore, it will be interesting to see what lineup the Italian coach opts for.What is certain is that due to Ferland Mendy’s injury, Fran Garcia will have to step into his position. All other players are available, so it all depends on Ancelotti’s thinking. Kylian Mbappe will most likely not play, at least not from the start. He injured his ankle, is not fully fit, and although he was named to the French national team for duties in the second half of March, he is expected to rest tonight.🗣️ Heung-min Son: “Mbappé? He’s phenomenal. The ability, speed, skills, he’s got everything.”“He’s playing in one of the best teams in the world with a lot of pressure. He’s doing so well.” @goal pic.twitter.com/l0yfxuLZcK— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) March 14, 2025 The most common outcome in matches between these two teams in Villarreal is a draw. Nine out of the last 13 encounters ended without a winner. Last season, in May, we watched a spectacular match that finished 4-4. Real was leading 4-1 at halftime, but Villarreal came back in the second half to equalize with a hat-trick from Atletico Madrid’s current striker, Alexander Sorloth.The story is completely different when the game is played at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Real mostly collects points without much trouble. It was the same this season, in early October, when Madrid won 2-0 with goals from Federico Valverde and Vinicius Júnior.LA LIGA MATCHDAY 28FridayLas Palmas – Alaves 2-2 (0-1)/Silva 90 pen, Moleiro 90+5 – Martinez 7, Guridi 63/Saturday16:00: (5.30) Valladolid (3.60) Celta (1.70)18:15: (1.85) Mallorca (3.40) Espanyol (4.60)20:30: (3.15) Villareal (3.75) Real Madrid (2.15)23:00: (2.05) Girona (3.50) Valencia (4.00)Sunday16:00: (3.80) Leganes (3.35) Betis (2.05)18:15: (3.15) Sevilla (3.20) Ath.Bilbao (2.55)20:30: (2.40) Osasuna (2.90) Getafe (3.45)20:30: (2.55) Rayo Vallecano (3.15) Sociedad (3.20)23:00: (3.30) Atl.Madrid (3.60) Barcelona (2.25)***odds are subject to change***
