Real Madrid: The 3 biggest X-Factors at Villarreal on Saturday

Real Madrid will face Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Saturday afternoon, and a lot will be on the line against La Liga’s second-placed side.

Coming out of the November international break, who would have seen Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid two places behind Unai Emery’s Villarreal in the La Liga table? But thanks to more questions in attack and some disappointing defensive performances, Los Blancos are fourth in the league with Real Sociedad, Villarreal, and Atletico Madrid all ahead of them.

Real already tied La Real to start the season, but Villarreal and Atleti are still on the schedule before 2020 closes. This weekend’s matchup at the Estadio de la Ceramica will tell us a lot more about where both Los Blancos and the Yellow Submarine stand.

Here are three X-Factors on Real Madrid to watch this Saturday afternoon.

AM Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard made his return from injury for Real Madrid against Valencia, coming off the bench to provide 26 minutes in a game that was already lost. The Norway international completed one dribble and made one key pass, but he didn’t really have a chance to make an impact.

On Saturday at the Estadio de la Ceramica, Odegaard can make his presence felt and remind La Liga fans why he is one of the league’s top players. Odegaard was a menace for defenses last season, creating chance after chance as the point guard of Real Sociedad’s impressive attack, which made headlines in the first half of the campaign.

Now, Odegaard is at the high-pressured Real Madrid and is ready to prove himself now that he’s healthy. Before his injury, Odegaard dazzled during the international break, providing a pair of assists against Romania.

Odegaard can provide the moments of magic Los Blancos need on Saturday against Villarreal.