Real Madrid will welcome Villarreal to the Santiago Bernabeu in their bid to unseat surprise package Girona at the top of La Liga.

Los Blancos are now two points behind Girona, who play Deportivo Alaves on Monday night. If Real Madrid wins, they will take the league lead and be able to throw the ball in Girona’s court.

Carlo Ancelotti’s squad has the league’s strongest defense and will want to maintain another clean sheet on the night. Meanwhile, the Yellow Submarine seems to be a pale ghоst of the fifth-place club from the previous season. They are presently 14th, only six points above the relegation zone.

After losing 2-0 to Real Sociedad last time out, the visitors will undoubtedly need to up their game if they are to have a chance in Madrid. Carlo Ancelotti’s me𝚗, on the other hand, are coming off a 3-2 victory away to Union Berlin and will not be aiming for the top place in La Liga.

With just two league games remaining this season, both clubs will be eager to complete the month on a strong note. In the Spanish capital, it promises to be an exciting figҺt. The Hard Tackle examines how these two teams will line up and what techniques they may deploy.

Team News & Tactics

Real Madrid

Carlo Ancelotti’s side have lost just once in the league this season and will be keen to return to the top of the Spanish footballing pyramid after having watched Barcelona secure the title last season.

Despite suffering several ιnjury setbacks, Real Madrid has continued to rack up the results this season. Ancelotti will now be aiming to secure maximum points from the remaining two games this year before regrouping in January and fashioning a fresh аssаult at the top prizes.

Several top stars such as Thibaut Courtois, Vinicius Junior, Eduardo Camavinga, Eder Militao, Dani Carvajal, Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler are all out injured. Guler could yet return to contention but is unlikely to be handed a starting spot. Los Blancos still have a few aces up their sleeve and should have enough in the tank to collect the win.

A 4-3-1-2 formation appears to be the way forward for Ancelotti, with Chelsea loanee Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal. He should be protected by the back four of Lucas Vazquez, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba and Ferland Mendy.

The experienced trio of Federico Valverde, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric will marshall the midfield, with Jude Bellingham pushing on further upfield. Joselu scored twice against Union Berlin and will be keen to keep that purple patch going alongside Rodrygo in the аttаck.

Probable Lineup (4-3-1-2): Kepa; Vazquez, Rudiger, Alaba, Mendy; Valverde, Kroos, Modric; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Joselu

Villarreal

The Yellow Submarine have conceded 29 goals in La Liga this season, a number that is dwarfed only by Granada and Almeria, the two sides that are at the bottom of La Liga. They have kept just one clean sheet in the last nine La Liga clashes and will have their work cut out in Madrid.

Villarreal’s form domestically has been in stark contrast to that in Europe. Marcelino’s me𝚗 have qualified for the Europa League knockouts as group winners but find themselves searching for a first win in three games in the league.

Injuries will not make his task easier with the quartet of Santi Comesana, Yeremy Pino, Aissa Mandi and Denis Suarez all unavailable. However, Villarreal are expected to retain a 4-3-3 formation that offers them tactical flexibility, given Real’s superior quality in the middle of the park.

Filip Jorgensen should start in goal behind the back four of Juan Foyth, Raul Albiol, Matteo Gabbia and Adria Altimira. Dani Parejo should hold the fort in the middle of the park with Etienne Capoue and Alex Baena. Ilias Akhomach and Gerard Moreno should provide the width with Alexander Sorloth leading the line.

Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Jorgensen; Foyth, Albiol, Gabbia, Altimira; Capoue, Parejo, Baena; Akhomach, Sorloth, Gerard Moreno