Villarreal vs Real Madrid: Danger Lurks Behind Arbeloa's Positive Streak

VILLARREAL, FRIDAY – Real Madrid cannot linger too long in the enjoyment of their significant victory over AS Monaco in the UEFA Champions League. The real test awaits Real, who are currently enjoying a honeymoon period with coach Alvaro Arbeloa, as they visit Villarreal's home ground. With their structural strength, Villarreal has the potential to hand Arbeloa a second defeat.

After experiencing a difficult start, Arbeloa has finally begun to provide stability for Real. After losing to the mediocre team Albacete in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey, Real bounced back by securing two consecutive victories against Levante and Monaco. The resounding 6-1 victory over Monaco significantly boosted the confidence of the Real players. The training session was filled with laughter and jokes. The atmosphere during practice appeared very relaxed.

Arbeloa can be said to be experiencing a honeymoon period with his new team. However, this honeymoon is at a crossroads as they visit Villarreal's home at the De La Ceramica Stadium on Sunday (25/1/2026) at 03:00 WIB. Villarreal, who are pragmatic yet sharp in counterattacks, pose a difficult challenge for Real, who have yet to resolve their defensive issues.

A fierce match is predicted to occur. Villarreal currently occupies the third position with 41 points in the temporary standings of La Liga. The "Yellow Submarine" is seven points behind Real in second place. If they can overcome Real, Villarreal will narrow the gap to four points. Meanwhile, Real clearly does not want to miss the opportunity to continue shadowing Barcelona at the top. Real and Barca are now only one point apart.

"This match is very important because the opponent is Villarreal. This is one of the toughest away matches in the league. We must perform at our best if we want to win. That is our focus," said Arbeloa at a press conference on Friday night (23/1/2026).

However, the De La Ceramica Stadium is not an easy place for Real. In their last eight league matches there, Real has only managed to secure one victory. Villarreal tends to have a way of bouncing back every time they face Real.

Although they do not have a good record against strong teams, Villarreal possesses sufficient quality to exploit their opponents' weaknesses. Real is no exception. Without Aurelien Tchouameni, who is absent due to a red card suspension, the defense could become even more vulnerable.

This is because Tchouameni is the main defensive barrier for Real when transitioning from attack to defense. The French defensive midfielder is always quick to close the gaps left by Alvaro Carreras or Federico Valverde, who often advance to support the attack.

The absence of Tchouameni could potentially become an easy target for Villarreal, who heavily rely on quick and sharp counterattacks. Villarreal's tendency to depend on counterattacks is reflected in the statistics that place them fourth from the bottom among teams with the lowest average ball possession, which is only 43.7 percent.

Known for their solid defensive structure, Villarreal cannot be underestimated when it comes to scoring goals. Statistics indicate that they are the third most productive team in the league, having accumulated 37 goals, averaging 1.9 goals per 90 minutes. Without needing to dominate matches with ball possession, Villarreal is capable of making up to 4.8 shots on target per game.

Arbeloa must think hard to counter Villarreal's cleverness in posing threats despite not having much ball possession. Attention can at least be focused on the movements of left winger Alberto Moleiro, who is currently in top form with Villarreal. The 22-year-old player has so far created five chances, three of which have resulted in assists.

On the other hand, Villarreal's coach, Marcelino, does not see the ongoing coaching transition at Real as a particular advantage for his team. For him, Real remains a big team that deserves to be favored as a contender for the league championship title this season.