Real Madrid will take on Villarreal hoping to extend their good scoring run. Los Blancos have scored 15 goals in their last three games, with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo showing a spectacular form.
Rafa Benitez men hope to overtake Atletico Madrid in the table by beating Villarreal, one of the strongest squads of the league, especially when playing at their own stadium.
The Spanish manager will have problems in defence again, as he will miss Raphael Varane and Daniel Carvajal through injury. Sergio Ramos is also a doubt, although he is expected to recover on time for the game. Thus, Pepe and Ramos would be the centre-back pair. Benitez will also recover Marcelo, who will return to the left-back position.
Los Blancos are expected to display a 4-3-3 formation, with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez in midfield, and the BBC (Bale, Benzema and Cristiano) up front.
Meanwhile, Villarreal will also struggle to line-up a decent defence, as they are suffering serious injury problems in that line. Mario Gaspar and Bonera are out, while Jaume Costa is also a doubt. Rukavina and Adrian Marin could be their replacements.
Marcelino Garcia Toral earned a disappointing draw on Thursday in Plzen in the Europa League, and they will seek to find comfort in a victory over Real Madrid.
Possible line-ups
Villarreal: Areola; Rukavina, Bailly, Ruiz, Marin; Dos Santos, Soriano, Pina, Suarez; Bakambu, Soldado.
Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Kroos, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
