Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. (Photo : Getty Images)
Surging powerhouse Real Madrid CF (23-4-6, 75 points) is looking to challenge the top two league leaders for the 2015-2016 La Liga title as the final few matchdays of the season gets underway. They now clash with fellow contenders Villarreal CF (17-7-9, 60 points) at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on April 20th, Wednesday to take their contention a step further.
Real Madrid is currently at the third spot of the league table, only a point behind league leaders FC Barcelona and Atletico Madrid with five matchdays left in the Spanish top flight before the end of the season.
The team is also on a seven-game winning streak which saw Barca's previous nine-point lead in the overall standings dwindle into just one at the moment as the defending champions became winless in their last four outings.
Los Blancos will be looking to keep that streak alive against a tough Valencia eleven, who are presently struggling to hold on to the fourth and final Champions League berth for next season.
Real demolished cellar-dwelling club Getafe CF, 5-1, at the Coliseum Alfonso Perez last Saturday, as reported by SkySports.
Head coach Zinedine Zidane's squad is fully-loaded that afternoon as five different Los Vikingos players scored a goal each on the way to the capital city team's five-goal haul, namely Karim Benzema, Isco, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, and Cristiano Ronaldo at the 29th, 40th, 50th, 88th, and 90th+2 minutes respectively.
Getafe was able to net a consolation goal at the 83rd minute courtesy of former Real Madrid youth academy graduate Pablo Sarabia.
Meanwhile, Villarreal is coming off a 1-2 setback in the hands of lowly team Rayo Vallecano at the Campo de Futbol de Vallecas last Sunday, as per ESPN.
Los Franjirrojos forward Javi Guera netted the opening goal at the seventh minute for the hosts before El Submarino Amarillo equalized it at the 20th with an Adrian Lopez shot from the right side of the box.
Rayo's Venezuelan forward Miku scored the winning goal nine minutes before full time to hand head coach Marcelino's squad their fourth winless performance in their last six outings.
The predicted result is a 3-0 romp for Real Madrid.
Real Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Isco, Kroos, Rodriguez; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo
Villarreal starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Areola; Mario, Bailly, Ruiz, Marin; Suarez, Trigueros, dos Santos, Pedraza; Baptistao, Lopez
