La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Villarreal

Posted on | January 21, 2008 | No Comments

Madrid goes into this match off the back of winning the derby by two goals to nil. Even when Madrid don’t play that well, they are highly organized and their affectivity in front of goal is just frightening. If you add ‘saint’ Iker Casillas in goal (he hasn’t conceded a goal since the eleventh of December against Lazio in the Champions league, and in the Spanish domestic league has gone six games unbeaten) this new Madrid is practically invincible. However, in midweek they were surprisingly beaten at home to Mallorca and eliminated from the King’s cup. Coach Bernd Schuster opted to play a host of players that don’t usually get a chance to shine in the first team and paid the price. Ex-Liverpool Dudek played only his second game for Madrid and won’t get giving Casillas any nightmares.
If Villarreal want to get anything from this match they will have to be at their best level. They beat Valencia at home on Saturday by three goals to nil in a splendid team display. Valencia for sure didn’t put up much of a fight (I secretly suspect they are playing badly intentionally to get Ronald Koeman sacked) but if Villarreal can repeat that performance after losing their way a bit a couple of games ago, they might well go home smiling.
The visitors are now in third spot in the league but twelve points behind the leaders, Real Madrid. They are one point in front of Atlético Madrid and two points from Espanyol, who occupy a UEFA cup spot and surprisingly lost again at the weekend. Villarreal are an ordered and play with an intensity that belies their humble origins.
Real Madrid didn’t have everything their way in their local derby. Portuguese defender Pepe, who has grown in stature and is now a firm fixture in the back four along with Cannavaro, had to go off injured against Atlético with a repeat of his Achilles injury. It isn’t known at this moment how long he will be out, but with Gabriel Heinze and Christoph Metzelder also out with injury problems, Schuster won’t want to lose him for long.
I’m going for a narrow Madrid victory here. At home they have won all their league games so far this season and are practically unstoppable. Villarreal will come close though, so expect a very intense, fast game.
Prediction: home win (1-0)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Murcia
2. La Liga: Villarreal — Atlético Madrid
3. La Liga: Osasuna vs. Real Madrid
4. La Liga: Almeria vs. Real Madrid
5. La Liga: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona

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