Real Madrid vs Villarreal: Times, how to watch on TV, stream online | LaLiga

While Real Madrid’s chances of toppling Barcelona from LaLiga summit now range from slim to nonexistent, they will still be looking to beat Villarreal who visit the Bernabéu on Saturday night and maintain their position in the table. Ancelotti’s team sit second on 59 points - the 12-point distance which separates them from Barça now seems too big a gap to close but Madrid’s philosophy is to win every game regardless of what might or might not be at stake - and that particularly applies when they are at home, playing in front of their own fans.

Quique Setién’s Villarreal have needs of their own. Sixth on 44 points, they are just one point behind Betis, four behind Real Sociedad - two teams who they met quite recently, taking four points from those games. The Submarine is still in with a realistic chance of making the top four although the priority is ensuring they stay in the European places.

When does Real Madrid vs Villarreal kick off?

The game between Real Madrid vs Villarreal will be played at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday 8 April 2023.

Kick-off times

How to watch Real Madrid vs Villarreal in the US

The following television channels and online services will be broadcasting Real Madrid vs Villarreal:

Real Madrid vs Villarreal preview

Real Madrid

Madrid’s minds may be more on next week’s crucial Champions League quarter final first leg against Chelsea but they will want to go into that game on the back of a positive result and certainly without losing anyone to injury.

Antonio Rüdiger, who sat out the 6-0 win over Valladolid. Mariano, who has also been suffering minor physical issues, is also fit again which leaves just left-back Férland Mendy the only player who is unavailable.

Madrid have suffered just a few blips in their league campaign since the New Year started. Interestingly, Villarreal were one of the few teams that have managed to beat Los Blancos - a 2-1 win at Estadi de la Ceràmica back in January with Benzema and Gerard Moreno both converting from the spot.

It will be interesting to see what line-up Ancelotti fields and whether he will be tempted to rest some of his veteran players or any of those who have racked up the most playing time - such as Modric (2,410′), Kroos (2,763′), Valverde (3,389′) or Benzema (2,528). Depending on how the game develops, key players could be reserved or used sparingly to keep them fresh for Chelsea’s visit in four days’ time.

Villarreal

Villarreal appear to have got over being dumped out of the UEFA Conference League - last month’s elimination to Anderlecht is now behind them and the focus is on qualifying for European competition again next season. Skilled old-timers in continental football, Villarreal have only failed to qualify for a UEFA tournament twice during the past 20 years.

In LaLiga, Setién’s side have been relatively stable in recent weeks. They suffered a four-game run of defeats at the start of 2023 - their worst streak of the campaign but since the 4-2 reverse to Mallorca in Week 22, they are unbeaten. The Submarine have taken some big scalps over the course of the season, including Atlético, Real Madrid and Real Sociedad and the run-in looks fairly uncomplicated for them.

Just one player on the injury list - midfielder Francis Coquelin is out for the remainder of the season with a ruptured ACL. The game will be a special one for former madridistas Raúl Albiol and Dani Parejo, who would relish the chance to put one over their old club.

Real Madrid vs Villarreal: last five league meetings