REAL MADRID have endured an inconsistent start to the season but it gets more tough today as they take on La Liga’s second-placed side Villareal.
Zinedine Zidane’s team can go above their opponents and into second place today with a win – but the home side are undefeated in their last five.
- Start time: 3.15pm GMT
- TV/Live stream: Premier Sports 1
- Villareal XI: Asenjo, Gasper, Albiol, Pau, Pedraza, Parejo, Trigueros, Iborra, Moreno, Bacca, Gomez.
- Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Varane, Nacho, Mendy, Kroos, Modric, Odegaard, Lucas, Hazard, Mariano.
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
HALF-TIME STATS
Six shots between the two sides inside the first half (Villarreal 3, Madrid 3), However, it was Madrid who made one of them count.
Madrid had 54 per cent of the ball compared to Villarreal’s 46 per cent.
Plenty of passes from both teams, Villarreal completed 89 per cent of their passes attempted (279) and Madrid completed 90 per cent of their passes attempted (324).
As it stands, Madrid leapfrog Villarreal in the table pushing the hosts down to third in the table.
HT: VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
It was a brilliant start by Madrid, they found themselves 1-0 up inside two minutes through Mariano.
Carvajal brought the ball down on the right side of the penalty area and picked out an unmarked Mariano inside the box and the striker made no mistake with the finish.
Madrid continued to dictate play for the rest of the half and the midfield three of Kroos, Modric and Odegaard were left to roam free inside the opposition half.
The home side have plenty of work to do in the second half.
PEEEEEEP!
THAT’S HALF-TIME!
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
45. Gasper drives down the line, he drills the ball into the feet of Bacca on the edge of the Madrid penalty area.
Bacca plays the ball into Moreno but the ball deflects back to Gasper.
The right-back floats a ball towards the edge of the six yard box box Varane heads the danger clear.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
44. Hazard showcases his close ball control out wide on the left, he draws Gasper in and knocks the ball past him before passing it back to Modric.
Not long left in the first half.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
42. Mendy touches the ball down on the halfway line, he plays a floated pass over the top of the Villarreal backline for Hazard to chase.
Hazard brings the ball down well but the linesman raises his flag for offside.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
41. Carvajal receives the ball at a tight angle deep inside his own half, he tries to turn out wide and play the ball down the line to Lucas but Gomez gets a foot on the ball deflecting it off the pitch for a throw.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
40. Villarreal are passing the ball across the backline maintaining possession but the problem is that they’re failing to find pockets of space inside the final third.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
38. Not long left in the first half, Madrid are still in the driving seat.
Modric and Kroos continue to dominate the game from the midfield unopposed.
DRESS TO IMPRESS
Zidane is dressed up smart on the sideline, as always!
Credit: Getty Images
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
35. Moreno receives the ball deep inside his own half, he senses Mendy coming in strong from behind so he holds the ball up drawing the foul. Good striker play!
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
OFF THE POST!
34. Mariano skips past Gasper on the left-hand side and plays the ball into the feet of Hazard on the edge of the penalty area.
Hazard cuts back onto his left foot and gets a shot off which deflects into the path of Mariano inside the penalty area.
The goal-scorer sets himself and sends his shot crashing off the near post!
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
33. Moreno tries to bring the ball down 35 yards from goal, Kroos comes in from the side with his studs up and the referee hands Villarreal a free-kick.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
30. Kroos and Modric are dictating the game from the midfield, Villarreal are sitting off Madrid’s two key men allowing them to pass the ball from left to right.
Odegaard picks out Kroos on the edge of the D on the halfway line, he gets his head up and floats a ball over the top of the Villarreal backline.
The onrushing Carvajal brings the ball down well and drives towards goal, he takes one touch too many and just as he gets the shot off Pedraza was back in time to give him a slight knock to put him off.
The shot crashes into the side netting and it’s a goal kick.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
28. Lucas receives the ball out wide on the right, he knocks the ball past Pedraza and draws a foul.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
27. Pedraza receives a pass out wide, he drives down the line and sticks a cross in towards the six yard box but Courtois gathers comfortably.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
27. Villarreal’s match tempo is too slow, if they want to catch Madrid out they need to move the ball quicker and tire their opponents out.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
25. Pau plays a sharp pass into the feet of Moreno, Modric comes up behind the Villarreal man to put him under pressure.
Modric attempts to stick a foot in around Moreno’s leg but ends up conceding a free-kick inside the opposition half.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
24. Pau is stepping into the midfield from defence to try and help out the men in the middle.
Moreno plays a ball over the top of the Madrid backline for Pedraza to chase, the left-back brings the ball down well, twists past Carvajal and looks to float a cross into the box.
His cross hangs up on the penalty spot for Bacca, the striker meets the ball but it deflects off Nacho and behind for a corner.
QUICK START
Mariano met Carvajal’s cross to head Madrid in front and it only took two minutes!
There was protest from the Villarreal players as the linesman had his flag up AND Lucas appeared to be offside in the build-up.
VAR checked it and the goal stood.
Credit: Getty Images
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
JUST OVER!
20. Moreno cuts inside off the right flank and floats a cross into the penalty area, Parejo rises highest and guides his header JUST over the crossbar!
Lovely build-up play.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
18.Nacho breaks up play inside the Villarreal half, he lays it off to Kroos who tries to pick out Mendy but he’s unsuccessful.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
16. Trigueros dances past two players and plays a lovely back heel flick to Moreno who slips Bacca through down the line.
The Colombian is stood up by Varane, he tries to twist and turn into space and when he finally finds room to stick a cross in Varane sticks his leg out conceding a corner.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
15. Villarreal are starting to get a foot in the game, they’re starting to win the first and second balls – slowly building up attacks.
VILLARREAL 0-1 REAL MADRID
14. Pedraza intercepts the loose ball deep inside the Madrid half and he drives towards goal looking to get Villarreal up the pitch.
He tries to cut inside of Varane but the Frenchman stands tall.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
