Real Madrid travel to the Estadio de La Cerámica this Saturday to face Villarreal, with Álvaro Arbeloa set to handed a major boost as Rodrygo Júnior returns to the matchday squad.
The Brazilian forward, who has been sidelined with a muscle injury since the Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, trained normally with the first team this week. Rodrygo is expected to make his debut under Arbeloa’s management, providing a much-needed creative spark for a side looking to maintain pressure on league leaders Barcelona.
Defensive Crisis for Arbeloa
While the news on Rodrygo is positive, Real Madrid’s defensive unit remains severely depleted. Arbeloa will be forced to improvise at the back, as Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Ferland Mendy all remain in the medical department.
To compensate for these absences, Arbeloa has called up several academy prospects from La Fábrica, including defenders Diego Aguado and midfielders Manuel Ángel, to fill the gaps in the traveling squad.
Brahim Díaz Returns from International Duty
In addition to Rodrygo’s recovery, Brahim Díaz is back at the club’s disposal following his participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with Morocco. His return, alongside the momentum from Tuesday’s emphatic 6-1 Champions League victory over Monaco, gives Real Madrid plenty of attacking options to navigate this tricky away fixture.
Match Importance and Standings
Real Madrid currently sit in second place with 48 points, trailing Barcelona by just a single point. Following a tense atmosphere at the Bernabéu during their recent league outing against Levante, a victory against a dangerous Villarreal side is essential to quiet the critics and sustain their title charge.
Match Details:
- Fixture: Villarreal vs Real Madrid
- Date: Saturday, January 24, 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 (GMT) / 21:00 (CET) / 15:00 (ET)
- Venue: Estadio de La Cerámica
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Gabriel Lucio is a football analyst covering La Liga, focusing on match analysis, tactical trends, and the race for domestic and European positions.
