Villarreal vs Real Madrid: times, TV and how to watch online

There aren’t too many bullets remaining to Real Madrid’s Liga rivals to shoot out the tyres of the current leader’s title bid, but one of them will be pointing at the visitors’ bus when Carlo Ancelotti’s side turn up at the Estadio de la Cerámica on Saturday. Three fixtures stand out for Madrid between here and the end of May: Barcelona at home, and Sevilla and Atlético away. Two of those games are not, this season, as daunting as they have been in previous campaigns. As things stand, the match at the Sánchez Pizjuán could be the season-decider. Sevilla are the only challengers left in the race, six points adrift. Behind them are their city neighbours Betis, who will happily take Champions League qualification, a place in the Copa del Rey final and a run in the Europa League from here. Barça and Atlético’s interest in the league extends only as far as finishing in the top four.

Villarreal vs Real Madrid live online: scores, stats and updates, La Liga

Ancelotti and Emery tied in head-to-head

Villarreal, meanwhile, occupy sixth and are out of Copa contention, leaving the Champions League as their main target this season. Last season’s Europa League winners play Juventus over two legs in the last 16 and will not be overawed by the current iteration of the Italian powerhouse. The visit of Madrid is exactly the sort of game Unai Emery would have wanted to limber up for Europe and the wily tactician will be relishing pitting his wits against Ancelotti again after holding Madrid to a 0-0 draw in the Bernabéu earlier in the season while also embellishing his personal record against Madrid, which stands at five wins and three draws from 25 games.

Against Ancelotti it’s all square, with both managers recording four wins, four defeats and a draw in their head-to-head. Madrid, meanwhile, have not beaten the Yellow Submarine away since 2017, with four score draws at the Cerámica since: 2-2, 2-2, 2-2, and 1-1 last season.

What time does Villarreal-Real Madrid kick off?

The LaLiga Santander game between Villarreal and Real Madrid will take place on Saturday 12 February, 2022, at 10:15 US (ET) and 07:15 US (PT). That’s 16:15 CET and 15:15 UK time.

Find out what time Villarreal-Real Madrid starts elsewhere in the world.

Where can I watch Villarreal-Real Madrid in the US and UK?

In the US and UK, the following television channels and online services will be broadcasting the LaLiga match:

US: ESPN+

UK: LaLigaTV

Find out who is showing Villarreal-Real Madrid elsewhere in the world.

Villarreal-Real Madrid: live AS USA coverage

You’ll also be able to follow live-text coverage of the Villarreal-Real Madrid match right here at AS USA. We'll be building up to the game from about an hour ahead of kick-off, before taking you through the action at the Cerámica as it unfolds.