Villarreal puts Real Madrid to the test at La Cerámica, where the whites could only draw from their last five visits
Real Madrid face a complicated duel at La Cerámica this Saturday, just four days before the Spanish Super Cup, which sees the current European and national champions face Valencia in the first semi-final next Wednesday. In a scenario where the Whites are no good in and against a dynamic and growing Villarreal, the League co-leader has a chance, at least for one day, to reach the top of the Championship alone. However, after suffering in the Cup against Cacereño with Unit B, the first league game rival of the year cannot be missed and the Yellow Submarine threaten to tarnish Madrid’s career and achieve their ambitions. For this reason, Carlo Ancelotti will bet that his top team, dismayed only by the absence of the injured Carvajal, will score three points in a game that the Italian coach predicts will be “very open”.
“To beat Villarreal, you have to get the best,” Ancelotti acknowledged this Friday, whose team, although very powerful in all its lines, continues to harbor defensive doubts, especially in the center of the back when Real Madrid face the danger represented by Gerard Moreno, accompanied by two wingers with a lot of overflow such as Samu Chukwueze and Yéremy Pino. However, Villarreal’s great novelty will be in goal, as after Gerónimo Rulli’s transfer to Ajax, it will be veteran Pepe Reina who will occupy Villarreal’s goal, after the Argentinian has made his side the second least battered side made League, surpassed only by Barça.
However, Real Madrid are the team with the most goals in the league, with more than twice as many goals as Villarreal (35 to 17), and to try to establish themselves on such a difficult ground, they again have Benzema and Vinicius, Ancelotti’s only hesitation is whether to give ownership to Rodrygo to accompany the Frenchman and his Brazilian compatriot upstairs or bet on Fede Valverde, who is likely to bolster Madrid’s midfield with a lot more physicality, apart from the fact that the Uruguayan has a terrifying long shot .
Either way, with a trident in attack or four players in midfield, it’s a big test for Real Madrid, who have only managed a draw in their last five visits to La Cerámica and now face Quique’s team Setién. thinking of the Super Cup, although Ancelotti insists he now only plays in the League and there will be time to dedicate his body and mind to the tournament in Saudi Arabia. With its eleven type and the importance of the clash, the restraint that Madrid showed against Cacereño, until it was saved precisely by Rodrygo, cannot be repeated if the Whites do not want to give up in their direct fight against Barça, who will surpass them at the table this Saturday night with a point that, depending on how the meeting in La Cerámica goes, could even be considered good for the meringue interests, even if it meant a step back.
new identity
Villarreal is an opponent who is trying to give Quique Setién, more offensive than Unai Emery, a new identity that will be put to the test against the defending champion and co-leader, as the submarine is going through a good moment, especially one of confidence. Villarreal always thrive in front of their fans in their stadium and La Cerámica will be packed this Saturday for a game that promises a lot given the upward trajectory of the locals and the fact that most of the Real Madrid starters rested in Cáceres to the challenge set for them presents the whites at the beginning of the year, with the return to competition on the eve of the Super Cup.
“The challenge of the year is to try to match what we did in 2022, to try to repeat it and even improve it,” acknowledges Ancelotti, who has conveyed the importance of a high-level duel to his players, while Madrid was forced to change the chip against a Villarreal who are very close to the European positions and would hit the League in case of victory. Now they are all the best, after the poor performance of the least common in the cup, those who are forced to defend themselves and let their coach fulfill their coach’s wish, who is so little in favor of rotation in the championship, let stand when the enemy threatens so much. At least in theory.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
