Real Madrid: 3 keys to victory against Villarreal on LaLiga’s Matchday 7

Real Madrid is fresh off a massive 6-1 victory against Mallorca at home and in the weekend they’ll again play at the Bernabeu against the Europa League champions, Villarreal. Though Villarreal hasn’t had the best start to the campaign, they too are coming on the backdrop of a great performance at home against Elche in a 4-1 victory. However, the Yellow Submarine has only scored six goals in the league so far and Real Madrid, on the other hand, is flying high offensively.

Carlo Ancelotti’s men would be expected to overcome Unai Emery’s side on LaLiga’s Matchday 7 and continue their dream start to the season with a fifth consecutive victory in the league. As such, here are the three keys to victory to abide by for Los Blancos.

1. Real Madrid must contain Villarreal’s key player Yeremi Pino

Villarreal has only scored in two of their five games thus far in the season, a 2-2 draw against the Champions Atletico Madrid and a 4-1 bashing of Elche in the last Matchday. Of these six goals scored, winger Yeremi Pino has been involved in four, per WhoScored. He scored one himself against Elche and assisted another. And, in the game against Los Rojiblancos, Pino assisted both goals that included an extraordinary piece of finishing by Manu Trigueros.

So it is pretty clear that Pino has been the difference-maker on the pitch for Unai Emery’s side. Not to forget he hasn’t played all of Villarreal’s games, he didn’t feature in the game against Espanyol. That makes for a great record in four games, that’s one goal contribution per game on average.

Real Madrid needs to recognize his threat and pay a deserved extra bit of attention to him. He thrives on the right side of the pitch and that means Real Madrid’s versatile defender, Nacho who is expected to take up his role on the right full-back position would have a handful of work on Saturday.