Real Madrid return to Liga action against Villarreal at the Stade Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, with Yan Diomande named in the starting XI. The match can be followed live with commentary on Afrik-Foot from 21:00 GMT+2.
Diomande starts for the Merengue side after featuring in a series of matches for Cote d’Ivoire during the international break. He has been selected ahead of Brahim Diaz, who begins on the substitutes’ bench.
There will be no Moroccan head-to-head at kick-off, despite Ilias Akhomach being included in Villarreal’s starting line-up. Nor will there be an all-Ivorian meeting, with Nicolas Pepe unavailable after undergoing a planned eye operation. Senegal midfielder Pape Gueye will start for Villarreal.
Real Madrid are looking to recover their momentum before the Clasico. They lost their most recent Liga game 2-1 to Atletico, their second defeat in seven league matches following a 1-0 loss at Betis.
The result left Real Madrid fourth on 15 points, six behind leaders FC Barcelona. They had beaten Rayo Vallecano 4-1 and won 3-2 at Elche before the defeat in the Madrid derby.
Their home record offers encouragement. Real Madrid have won all four of their matches at the Santiago-Bernabeu this season, scoring 14 goals and conceding three. Jose Mourinho will be seeking a response from his side after an inconsistent start to the campaign.
Villarreal arrive in better form. The Yellow Submarine are ninth with eight points from seven matches and have won their last two Liga fixtures, beating Levante 3-1 before recording a second 3-1 victory away to Malaga.
Those wins halted a run of defeats against Betis, who won 2-1, and Deportivo La Coruna, who prevailed 3-2. Villarreal also lost 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League.
Pape Gueye is the club’s leading Liga scorer with three goals. The trip to Madrid will provide a significant test for Inigo Perez’s team against opponents who have been highly effective on home soil.
Recent meetings also favour Real Madrid. They have won the clubs’ last four Liga encounters: 2-0 at La Ceramica in January 2026, 3-1 at the Bernabeu in October 2025, 2-1 away in March 2025 and 2-0 at home in October 2024.
Villarreal have not taken a league point from Real Madrid since a thrilling 4-4 draw in May 2024. They have, however, won at the Bernabeu before, claiming a 3-2 victory in April 2023.