Real Madrid vs Villareal | Spanish Primera Division | Round 23 | Preview
Real Madrid look to defeat Villarreal tonight at the Bernabeu (21:00 CET) to keep their two-point distance with leaders Barcelona. It will be Sergio Ramos’ 200th game with the Whites. He has so far played in 149 league games, 34 Champions League clashes and 4 Spanish Super Cup encounters.
Van der Vaart, Metzelder and Dudek returned to Manuel Pellegrini’s squad list, but Benzema and Drenthe are injured and will therefore miss the match. The Frenchman has pubalgia and the latter a contracture. Pepe and Guti are the other absences on the squad list.
The Whites have a chance to become the least-scored upon Real Madrid side if they don’t concede any goals (they would equal the record established in the 1964/65 and 1971/72 campaigns, during which the team conceded just 15 strikes in 23 games). On the other hand, if the Madridistas take four points in the next two matches they will reach a new Club high 24 weeks into the championship.
Villarreal are currently tenth on the league table due to an uneven run. They’ve earned three defeats and two victories in their last five league games, as well as a draw against Wolfsburg in the Europa League. Cazorla, Rossi, Gonzalo Rodriguez and Godin will miss the match at the Bernabeu due to injuries, so youth teamers Musacchio, Kilo, Matilla and Marco Ruben may get a chance to play.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Ramos, Albiol, Arbeloa, Metzelder, Marcelo, Garay
Midfielders: Diarra, Gago, Lass, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Kaka, Van der Vaart
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Higuain
Referee: Mr. Muñiz Fernandez
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