Real Madrid is gearing up for a significant clash against Villarreal this Saturday at their home ground, the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu. This fixture comes just before the second international break of the 2025-26 season. Xabi Alonso`s squad, who had maintained a perfect record of six wins in LaLiga, recently suffered a disappointing 5-2 defeat in the Madrid Derby against Atlético Madrid. Consequently, this upcoming match against Villarreal presents a prime opportunity for Los Blancos to demonstrate a strong response in front of their dedicated home supporters. Midweek saw the team undertake an extensive 4000-mile journey for a Champions League group stage fixture against Kairat, which they convincingly won 5-0. Here`s a comprehensive overview of what to anticipate for Saturday`s encounter.
Match Overview and Betting Odds
- Date: Saturday, October 4
- Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
- Odds: Real Madrid -233; Draw +408; Villarreal +500
Coach Xabi Alonso`s Pre-Match Remarks
Addressing the media prior to the Villarreal game, the Spanish coach shared his expectations for the team`s reaction following the disappointing loss to Atlético Madrid.
“My focus is entirely on how I want us to respond. I expect us to perform with intensity, quality, and as a cohesive unit. I`m not making requests; it`s up to us to give our absolute best. We must be proactive in our play because we know that`s what truly engages our fans. We aspire to achieve that and secure a victory, but importantly, to do it in the manner we envision. We spend a lot of time together, fostering an intimate bond through match preparations, celebrating triumphs, and enduring the pain of defeats. This shared experience strengthens our unity. I`ve consistently felt a sense of confidence and closeness with the players, always mindful of my role. Mutual respect and collaborative effort are, for me, absolutely fundamental.”
Predicted Starting Lineups
Thibaut Courtois; Raul Asencio, Eder Militao, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni; Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Kylian Mbappe.
Luiz Junior; Santiago Mourino, Rafa Marin, Renato Veiga, Sergi Cardona; Pape Gueye, Thomas Partey, Alberto Moleiro; Tani Oluwaseyi, Georges Mikautadze, Manor Solomon.
