Overview

• The LaLiga match is set for Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu with Real Madrid in second on 18 points and Villarreal third on 16.
• Real rebounded from last weekend’s derby loss with a 5-0 Champions League win over Kairat that featured a Kylian Mbappé hat-trick.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold is out long term and Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rüdiger are also unavailable, with Aurélien Tchouaméni discussed as a defensive option.
• Villarreal list long-term ACL injuries for Logan Costa and Pau Cabanes and have doubts over Ayoze Pérez and Gerard Moreno, with Nicolas Pépé expected to start.
• Previews note Real’s head-to-head advantage over Villarreal (30 wins to six in 53 meetings), and one outlet predicts a 3-1 home victory.