Real Madrid and Villarreal will lock horns in the La Liga matchday 38 at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium on Saturday. The kick-off is at 18:00 CEST.

Preview

Let's start with the hosts who haven't given up hope on keepeing the La Liga trophy at their stadium for another season. The current title holders are just two points behind league leaders Atletico Madrid ahead of the final matchday in the Spanish top flight. Thus, Zinedine Zidane's men only need a victory against Villarreal while hoping for second-bottom Valladolid to either win or draw Atleti on the same day so that the Whites can leapfrog their city rivals at the top of the table.

Villarreal, meanwhile, badly need all three points on Saturday to have a shot at the Europa League qualification. As things stand now, the Yellow Submarine are seventh in the table, level on points with sixth-placed Betis and one point adrift of Real Sociedad who sit in fifth. Therefore, Unai Emery's side will be relying on the results of their rivals while aiming at a victory in Madrid in a bid to finish in the top six.

Team news

Dani Carvajal, Lucaz Vazquez, Ferland Mendy remain on the sidelines for the hosts while Toni Kroos is unavailable after contracting Covid-19. Sergio Ramos, meanwhile, is still doubtful through a hamstring problem. Samuel Chukwueze, Juan Foyth and Vicente Iborra, in turn, won't help the visitors due to injury.

Prediction

Even though Villarreal will be thinking about next Wednesday's Europa League final against Manchester United when they travel to Madrid, Emery simply cannot afford to rotate his starting XI on the weekend with the top-5 finish in the league still very much possible. The Yellow Submarine managed a 1-1 draw against the Whites in the reverse fixture and thus we do expect Emery's team to find the back of the net at the Alfredo Di Stefano too. Still, Madrid are still hot favourites to claim a victory in this one with the La Liga title at stake.

Tip

Real Madrid to win or draw and both teams to score at 1.89 with 1XBET.