Villarreal head into Saturday’s clash with Real Madrid with most of their key players available, though there remains a late question mark over Alfonso Pedraza’s fitness.
The left-back suffered a broken
nose after a heavy blow during Villarreal’s recent match against Real Betis. Despite the injury, Pedraza could still feature at La Cerámica wearing a protective mask. Should he be ruled out, Sergi Cardona — who started Villarreal’s midweek Champions League match against Ajax — is the leading candidate to replace him.
Marcelino rotated heavily in Europe, with Villarreal already eliminated and nothing at stake in the Champions League fixture. As a result, several regular starters were rested and are expected to return against Real Madrid. Juan Foyth, Dani Parejo, Tajon Buchanan, Gerard Moreno, and Georges Mikautadze all avoided starting against Ajax, while Pape Gueye was also kept fresh.
A victory against Real Madrid would significantly boost Villarreal’s title ambitions, pulling them within four points of Los Blancos while holding a game in hand against Levante — hence the heavy emphasis on this game and not the mid-week Champions League encounter.
If both Gueye and Pedraza are cleared to play, Villarreal are expected to line up with Luiz Júnior in goal; Pau Navarro, Juan Foyth, Veiga, and Pedraza across the back; Parejo and Pape Gueye anchoring midfield, with Buchanan and Moleiro providing width; and a forward pairing of Gerard Moreno and Mikautadze leading the attack.
