Buoyed by the 3-0 Copa del Rey triumph over arch rivals Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid will fancy their chances of defeating Villarreal and putting extra pressure on their title rivals.

Meanwhile, the Yellow Submarine hope to further improve their Champions League hopes by taking at least a point from Santiago Bernabeu.

Even if many doubted Real Madrid’s title credentials following some unexpected slip-ups in the opening exchanges, los Blancos have successfully gotten their season back on track.

Having already eliminated one European giant in group stage, Carlo Ancelotti’s side should have no problems reaching Champions League quarter-finals at the expense of Schalke.

Meanwhile, the team made a giant step towards the Copa del Rey final by defeating Atletico Madrid 3-0 in midweek, and it’s now just a matter of further improving their league position.

The 1-1 draw at Athletic Club prove costly in more ways than one as it not only allowed los Colchoneros to create a three-point advantage at the top but also robbed Real of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who could be banned for three league matches.

Nevertheless, with Gareth Bale returning to the side, Real Madrid are rightly considered 1.40 (2/5) favourites to see off Villarreal.

Talented Jese Rodriguez is set to deputize for Cristiano Ronaldo and after scoring in last three matches, the forward is 1.91 (10/11) to score anytime.

Probable starting line-up (4-2-3-1): Lopez – Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo – Modric, Illarramendi – Bale, di Maria, Jese – Benzema.

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Despite spending one season in Segunda, Villarreal were able to mount a serious top 4 challenge immediately upon returning to the top flight, so it’s like nothing has changed at all.

Before the terribly unfortunate season, the Yellow Submarine were regarded one of Spain’s top sides and were regularly playing Champions League football, and they appear ready to return to old glory days.

Villarreal took great advantage of Athletic Club’s draw with Real Madrid to close the gap behind Champions League positions to three points, but it is they who will be facing red-hot los Blancos this weekend.

And with the reverse fixture at El Madrigal ending in 2-2 draw, both teams to score bet needs to be considered at 1.65 (13/20).

Striker Jeremy Perbet is finally set to start after scoring a brace at the weekend, and having averaged a league goal every 76 minutes, the Frenchman is no less than 6.00 (5/1) to score anytime.

Boss Marcelino Garcia Toral faces serious selection problems ahead of the clash at Santiago Bernabeu, with Ikechukwu Uche joining Cani in the infirmary and Tomas Pina banned.

Bruno Soriano, Matteo Musacchio and Gabriel Paulista are all injury doubts, although Aleksandar Pantic is back in contention.

Probable starting line-up (4-4-2): Asenjo – Mario, Dorado, Paulista, Costa – Aquino, Trigueros, Soriano, Moises – dos Santos, Perbet.