Overview
- Kickoff is Saturday, October 4 at 21:00 local time at the Santiago Bernabéu, with coverage on DAZN/LaLiga TV in Spain, ESPN and Disney Plus in Latin America, Sky Sports in Mexico, and ESPN platforms in the United States; Guillermo Cuadra Fernández will referee.
- Real Madrid seek a domestic response after a 5-2 derby defeat, returning from a nearly 14,000 km trip to Almaty where they beat Kairat 5-0 in the Champions League.
- Villarreal arrive two points back after three straight LaLiga wins and a 2-2 draw with Juventus in Europe, keeping pressure near the top of the table.
- Kylian Mbappé enters on a prolific run with goals in six straight matches and 13 this season, including a Champions League hat-trick midweek.
- Injuries hit both defenses: Real Madrid list Dani Carvajal, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy out with Éder Militão doubtful, while Villarreal are without Juan Foyth, Pau Cabanes, Logan Costa and Willy Kambwala.