Real Madrid V Villarreal Predictions & Betting Odds

Real Madrid v Villarreal Betting Preview – La Liga 13th January 3.15pm

Real Madrid fell further back in the title race in La Liga as they returned to action last weekend after the winter break. They were held to a 2-2 draw out at Celta Vigo who are a bottom half of the table side. That was yet another misfire for the reigning champions who are having a very frustrating season. They now have a tough home game on their hands as sixth-placed Villarreal come for a visit and they are carrying decent form with them too.

Real Madrid v Villarreal Betting Tips

Once again Real Madrid could not deliver the goods this season in La Liga. Coming back from the winter break, they threw away a lead at Celta Vigo to end up in a 2-2 tie. That leaves them sixteen points adrift of league leaders Barcelona and down in fourth place, with some work to do to just get a Champions League place this season. Real Madrid have only recorded two wins in their last six league outings. The draw at Celta Vigo was their third straight away draw and they are winless in four out on the road. Back at the Bernabeu, they were hammered 3-0 by Barcelona in their last home fixture just before the winter break. Overall it leaves Real Madrid with a W2 D3 L1 record in their last six league games. Clearly, they are nowhere near mounting a title defence this season. Overall their home form reads W5 D2 L2 and the loss against Barcelona did snap a five-match winning streak there that they were on, scoring at least two goals in each of those.

Real Madrid to win to nil at Betfair for 6/4 odds* (Betting Odds were taken January 9th, 2018 at 6.40 pm) may still have appeal here as they do have four clean sheets in their last five home games. Gareth Bale got both of their goals against Celta Vigo last weekend and he needs some big performances over the second half of the season. It is Cristiano Ronaldo who heads up both the first goalscorer and anytime goalscorer markets for this one though. In last season’s home game against Villarreal, Real Madrid had to settle for a point a 1-1 draw and two of the last three between these at the Bernabeu have been settled by that scoreline. Real Madrid are W3 D2 L1 in their last six La Liga contests against Villarreal home and away, with four of those all going under the 2.5 goal line and given the state of play with both of these at the moment then it may well be a decent option to go under 2.5 goals for this weekend’s clash. Villarreal are not going to be a pushover in this game as they are carrying some decent form with them.

Another 1-1 tie between these two, backing Villarreal to stay strong, is at 14/1 in the Betfair correct score market* (Betting Odds took January 9th, 2018 at 6.41 pm). Villarreal are currently on a three-match undefeated streak of form in the Spanish top flight at the moment (W2 D1) and they have won back to back away games as well, 1-0 wins including a notable victory over Valencia who are currently sat in third place, a spot higher than Real Madrid are. Villarreal are W4 D2 L4 for the season away from home and they have only been trailing at half time once on their travels this term which suggests that a half-time draw could be pretty decent value. They are not particularly potent in front of goal and have averaged a goal per game on their travels, but they are reasonably solid at the back and will be competitive in this game. 75% of their goals this season have come in the second half of matches only Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Barcelona have earned more away points this season than they have done.

Real Madrid v Villarreal Betting Odds*

Real Madrid 2/9, Draw 11/2, Villarreal 10/1* (Betting Odds taken January 8th, 2018 at 11.01pm)