Villareal v Real Madrid
Sunday 1st September 2000hrs
Football – Spain–La Liga
Pick Real Madrid
Bookmaker Betvictor
Odds: 37/40 (odds taken 16.00 GMT, Saturday 31 August)
 |
1 | X | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 27/10 | 3/1 | 87/100 |
* (Betting Odds were taken from 22Bet on August 31, 2019 at 16.00)
It’s not been the start to the season for Villareal or Real Madrid and both teams will be going into Sunday’s game looking to bounce back from disappointing results last weekend.
Villareal Preview – Can Villareal beat Real Madrid and register their first La Liga win of the season?
Two games into the new season and Villareal will be disappointed that they have not yet been able to get that first victory. Coach Javi Calleja was given the job on a permanent basis at the beginning of the year after steadying the ship in his caretaker spell. It’s a club who can go through managers regularly so he will be aware that results to have to pick up. The visit of Real Madrid gives them an opportunity to go into a game where they can play the counter-attacking football they are so effective with. Their games so far have shown that there is no issues with them scoring goals but they have been vulnerable in defence.
For the neutral, a 4-4 draw at home to Granada was as entertaining as it gets. It was, however, particularly frustrating for Calleja who seen his team lose two late goals and two points. Worse was to come for the Yellow Submari when they lost 2-1 away to Levante last weekend. Yet again it was another game they held the lead for a long time before conceding two second half goals. Their defence is clearly an issue so don’t be surprised if they elect to be more cautious on Sunday. They certainly have the technicians and creativity to cause any opponent problems.
Real Madrid Preview – Will Zidane’s Real bounce back from an unconvincing home draw with another away win?
It’s a club never far from drama and it looks like we’re in for another roller coaster season with Real Madrid. An opening day 3-1 win away to Celta was excellent and some may have been getting ahead of themselves thinking that their problems had been solved in the close season. We only had to wait a week to know that was not the case as Zinedine Zidane’s men drew 1-1 with Real Valladolid. It was a late goal they managed themselves but the visitors were able to respond and highlight Real’s deficiencies in case we needed reminding. It was the second week in a row where none of the club’s new signings begun the game and it’s likely that will be the case again with Eden Hazard still not fit enough.
There is always pressure on whoever Real’s coach is and that doesn’t change because it’s Zidane. Having had a really poor end to the previous season the club really need a fast start to the new campaign. With Barcelona struggling for consistency at the moment they have a chance to pressure the champions and keep pressing Atletico. A win on Sunday would certainly go along way to doing both of those things.
Key-Facts – Villareal v Real Madrid
- Villareal are searching for their first win of the new season having taken one points from their first two games
- Real were excellent away to Celta on opening weekend but they were very poor at home last weekend
- It will be a quick reunion for Maurizo Sarri who left Napoli in 2018 to join Chelsea before taking over as Juventus boss this summer – illness means he will not be in attendance, however
Villareal v Real Madrid Betting Advice
One of the biggest strengths if not the most defining aspect of Zidane’s first tenure was how good his team were at counter attacking. It was particularly prominent in Europe, leading them to three successive Champions League titles. It was evident once again on the opening day away to Celta where they had the space. That’s what they were unable to do last week at home to Valladolid so Zidane will be hoping that going on their travels again will see his team at their best. For Villareal they will be hoping to defend better and will be happy to let their opponents come on to them as well.
Seven points from three games would not be a disaster considering two of them have been away from home. That’s the small margins at the beginning of the season and makes tomorrow’s game really important. Villareal are desperate for points themselves but their defence is fragile and Real have the players to take advantage. It’s likely to be a high-scoring affair based on recent games but it’s one Real are good enough to win.
