The fourth score draw here in Vila-real between both sides after three successive 2-2 draws.

The final whistle sounds and it ends all-square:

Cynical foul from Kroos as he pulls Kubo's shirt 

Gerard and Kubo combine and the Japan international is unable to steer the ball over Courtois. 

Pino carded and the sub. is the first man in yellow in the book tonight.

Three minutes of time to be added.

One senses that both coaches would settle for a point at this stage with Madrid enjoying the better of the first half and Villarreal on top in this second 45'.

Kubo too set to have a few minutes as the clock winds down. The Japan international replaces Moi Gomez.

Less than five remain at the Estadio de la Ceramica. Tiredness now contributing to an open contest as Gaspart calls for a change with Ruben Peña set to come on for the men in yellow.

The goal for the home side has seen a boost in intensity in the action with the home side now pushing for a second as Madrid tire. Change for RM: Asensio on for Mariano

Villarreal pushing now for a second as they sense the fatigue in the Real Madrid side. 

Gerard Moreno now with 5 goals this season. 

Real Madrid are (and have been) stretched in the middle of the park. Veteran Modric is fresh from two games with Croatian midweek. This is where Madrid miss Casemiro and Valverde.

Chukwueze and Pervis really have made a difference for the home side with the draw possibly a fair reflection of what we've seen in the 79 minutes of action.

Courtois guesses right but the No. 7 managed to slide the ball into the corner of the net. 

Chukwueze is clipped by Courtois and a penalty is awarded

Asensio warming up for Real Madrid. 

Fine effort from Lucas Vazquez who tries to curl the ball into the corner but the ball is deflected wide for a corner.

Parejo almost ties the game but rifles his effort wide after great play from Pau Torres. Madrid with less of a stranglehold on the game now with the three Villarreal subs igniting the home side as the clock ticks down. 

Parejo lofts the ball into the area, Courtois comes but misses the ball but fortunately for the visitors the ball breaks free to a Real Madrid player.

Gaspart fouled by Nacho and the Madrid man earns a card for the infringement. 

At present, we look like we're someway off the 2-2 scoreline from the past three seasons here at Vila-real and my 3-1 prediction looks well off the money too.

Gerard breaks but the flag is up. Irrespective of the call, Courtois was alert to clear his lines. 

Odegaard off and Isco takes his place

Pedraza off / Pervis on for Villarreal. Hazard makes way for Vinicius.

Chukwueze fires over after a fine one-two ...the Nigerian striker (fresh from two draws against Sierra Leone for Nigeria) looking dangerous

Chukwueze for Bacca / Pino on for Trigueros 

Shots on target after an hour of action: Villarreal 0-1 Real Madrid..... scoreline VCF 0-1 RMCF

Both sides looking a little weary now, many players have been on international duty but an injection of fresh legs would do the game a world of good. 

Gerard Moreno drives the ball inches wide after a defensive error from Nacho. Best chance of the day for the home side.

Kubo and Chukwueze is what Villarreal fans are anxious to see, the creativity of the Japanese player and the attacking threat of the Nigerian forward. 

Emery looks rather anxious on the Villarreal bench as he orders a number of men on the bench to warm up. 

The pattern of the game remains faithful with that of the first half... Villarreal with plenty of possession but unable to create any serious danger on Courtois' goal. 

Left footed .... Lucas Vazquez fires over with the flag up already as Mariano picked up the ball in an offiside position.

Villarreal press as Madrid gift the men in yellow possession but Nacho does well to avert the danger. 

Both sides will be in European action next week as Madrid travel to Milan to face Inter in the Champions League and Villarreal in Europa League action on Thursday away to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Real Madrid to get the second half underway. Off we go.

The sides take to the pitch at the Ceramica. Emery needs to change his personnel with the current side lacking the spark to cut through the well organised Real Madrid rear-guard but at a glance it appears that no changes have been made at the interval. 

Should things stay as they are at the 'Ceramica', Real Madrid would jump to second place in the LaLiga table on 19 points, just one behind leaders Real Sociedad.

Solid from Real Madrid who have never looked under serious pressure from the side in yellow. Little in terms of goal mouth incident apart from the Mariano goal. Villarreal need to improve their dead ball delivery with Parejo disappointing tonight. 

The game is nicely poised for an entertaining second 45'. 

The whistle sounds and with 0-1 on the scoreboard, both teams head to the dressing rooms. 

One minute of time to be added.

Mariano has acquitted himself admirable this afternoon with the 27-year-old fighting and battling for every ball. 

Possession: Villarreal 51/49 Real Madrid (%)
 

Villarreal could do with the speed and agility of Nigerian striker Chukwueze today as Bacca looks lumbersome and speed is not Gerard Moreno's game and quite clearly the 'Yellow Submarine' are dearly missing the services of Paco Alcacer. 

Varane looking nimble today and showing no signs of the possible injury which threatened to rule the French defender out of the game.

Villarreal's play out of defense is somewhat ponderous and lacking a spark with Madrid second guessing each passage of play. 

Kroos leads with the studs and the referee calls for dangerous play. Parejo over the ball and once again a poor hit from the man in yellow. Real Madrid counter and the ball falls to Mariano who drives the ball off the post but the flag is up

Great work from Carvajal who reads the play well but sees his effort drift wide after defensive pressure from Pedraza.

Coming up to the 30' mark and despite their effort and industry, it's Real Madrid who are still in control here in Vila-real both in terms of possession, sensations and more importantly via the score-board.

Courtois finally called into action as the Belgian stopper stoops to cut out a Pedraza cross.

Very little for either goalkeeper to deal with so far with the buik of the game being concentrated in the central area of the pitch.

Villarreal's use of dead ball situations has been poor today with a handful of corners and free kicks wasted by the men in yellow.

Carvajal fouls Pedraza and Villarreal win a dangerous free-kick which Parejo takes, Trigueros over-hits and the ball drifts out for a goal kick.

Madrid dominating proceedings in terms of possession after 22 minutes of football.

Parejo latches onto a Gerard Moreno cross but just nods over the bar. 

Mariano celebrates his 2nd minute goal.

Fine play from Villarreal as Bacca wins a corner for his side. The ball falls to Trigueros who fails to deliver the ball into the box and Real Madrid manage to pass their way out of danger. 

Villarreal still in possession as Bacca tries to break into the area but Madrid intervene and the move finally breaks down.

Patient build-up from the home side with Parejo at the heart of all the creative play for Emery's men. Villarreal happy to take the ball all the way back to the keeper and start the creative build-up from the back.

Real Madrid looking solid here in the first ten minutes of action with the game providing an excellent platform for Mariano to impress. The striker showed what he can do in his spell with Lyon but is clearly not favoured by the French coach.

The home side have upped their level of intensity with Gerard Moreno looking to get in on the action as Asenjo is forced to grasp a lofted ball into the area. Asenjo with the sun in his eyes in the first period.

The perfect tonic for Real Madrid and Zidane with a serious injury problem plaguing his side with the likes of Ramos, Jovic and Benzema out of action.

Dramatic start here in Vila-real with the visitors ahead in the second minute. 

Parejo complains after the linesman raises his flag for a handball and the goal stands. 

Real Madrid donning their fourth kit designed by Pharrell Williams and part of the Adidas Human Race campaign.

All set at the Estadio de la Ceramica,  Villarreal get us going.

Alejandro Jose Hernandez Hernandez is today's match official.

Villarreal will sport their all yellow kit today with Madrid too in their all-black away kit as both sides take to the field at a sun-kissed Estadio de la Ceramica.

Real Madrid's slip-up at Mestalla, blots the recent five game run form with Villarreal having only shipped two goals in their past five outings (LaLiga & Europa League)

Was hoping to see Kubo in action today against his 'parent club'. Emery seems to be saving the Japanese youngster for the Europa League.

So, 1-1 last night between Osasuna and Huesca, 1-1 earlier on today.... the last three meetings at the Ceramica ending 2-2 between Villarreal and Madrid.....everything pointing to .....

Actually, my pre-game prediction is a 3-1 win for the home side. Real Madrid have been badly hit by injury and this will prove decisive today (I feel). 

The early kick-off between Elche and Levante has just ended with a 1-1 scoreline.

Great aerial shot of the Estadio de la Ceramica. Vila-real is a great little town who love their club, but it has to be said that the 'away' end at the ground is one of the worst in LaLiga. High, dreadful viewing anglea and having to watch the game behind thick, smudged perspex glass is not ideal.

Villarreal are one of the few LaLiga clubs to have decked out their stadium with cardboard cut-outs of supporters.

Here's how the top of the LaLiga table currently looks:

Villarreal boss Unai Emery has beaten Real Madrid in La Liga with Almeria, Valencia and Sevilla and against a depleted Real Madrid is faced with an excellent opportunity for another victory with his new Villarreal side.

The past three meetings between these sides in Vila-real has ended 2-2. One suspects that at the end of 90 minutes today, both Emery and Zidane would be happy with a similar score-line.

Villarreal confirm their XI: 

Mariano to the rescue

With no Benzema or Jovic, Zidane calls upon the striker who has only played 98 minutes of league action in the past 18 months.

Read more:

Varane makes the starting line-up despite fitness concerns with Mariano, Hazard and Lucas Vazquez to provide attacking threat.

The Real Madrid starting XI has just been confirmed: 

The Estadio de la Ceramica bathed in bright blue Mediterranean sunshine today with the recently refurbished ground gealmining ahead of today's LaLiga action.

Real Madrid without Benzema, Jovic, Ramos, Casemiro for Villarreal as Hazard returns

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane has named his 20-man squad for the trip to Villarreal, in which there are several notable absentees.

Read more about the selection problems facing Zidane here:

The action at the Estadio de la Ceramica gets underway with a 16:15 kick-off.

Hello and a very warm welcome to our live coverage of the LaLiga Santander action from Vila-real as Unai Emery's side face Real Madrid.