Real Madrid vs Villarreal: LaLiga lineups, team news, confirmed starting teams as Valverde returns for Los Blancos
Full team news from Real Madrid v Villarreal
Real Madrid will be hoping to bounce back from last week’s derby thrashing at the hands of city rivals Atletico when they host Villarreal this evening.
Los Blancos’ unbeaten La Liga start ended in emphatic fashion last weekend as they were beaten 5-2, but Xabi Alonso’s men responded with a routine Champions League win in midweek courtesy of a hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe to continue the Frenchman’s electric start to his sophomore season in Spain.
Villarreal, meanwhile, currently sit third in the Spanish top-flight after a bright start of their own, including three successive victories.
The Yellow Submarine will, however, be looking to improve on a dismal record against Real, winning just six of 53 meetings.
Here is how the two sides line up at the Bernabeu.
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Real Madrid team news
The big news from the Real camp is the return of Federico Valverde, who captains the side.
Uruguay international was an unused substitute in midweek, prompting rumours of a fall out with Alonso: claims the midfielder addressed in a statement.
Mbappe again leads the line, looking to add to his eight league goals for far this season. Vinicius Junior and Franco Mastantuono give Madrid added threat out wide.
Villarreal team news
Manager Marcelino makes four changes from the team that started in the 2-2 draw with Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday.
Sergi Cardona, Thomas Partey, Tani Oluwaseyi and Alberto Moleiro all come in to replace Alfonso Pedraza, Dani Parejo, Georges Mikautadze and Nicolas Pepe.