Real Madrid aim to bounce back in Spanish league after shocking Champions League loss

Lille beat Real Madrid 1-0 on Wednesday to end Whites' 36-match unbeaten streak; Real to play Villarreal on Saturday

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - Real Madrid, which took a shocking UEFA Champions League loss midweek, aim to bounce back in the Spanish La Liga as the Whites will play against Villarreal on Saturday.

French team Lille beat Carlo Ancelotti's Real Madrid 1-0 in a Wednesday Champions League match at Stade Pierre Mauroy to end the visitors' 36-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Called Les Dogues, Lille, which bagged a historic win at home, also ended the Spanish giants' 14-game unbeaten run in the Champions League.

Four Real Madrid players have injury problems before Saturday's league match.

Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, Austrian defender David Alaba, Spanish midfielder Dani Ceballos and Moroccan attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz are expected to miss the Villarreal clash at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

The Real Madrid vs. Villarreal fixture in the matchday nine will start at 1900GMT.

Star-studded Real Madrid are in the second spot in the La Liga table as they have 18 points in eight matches. Real are currently three points behind leaders Barcelona.

Real Madrid's summer signing Kylian Mbappe has five league goals to be his team's top scorer. Wingers Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo scored three goals each for Real Madrid.

Their opponents Villarreal made a strong start to the 2024-25 La Liga season.

The Yellow Submarine, which will play a critical match in the Spanish capital this weekend, are sitting in the third place with 17 points.

Villarreal have no injured players.

Meanwhile Robert Lewandowski-led Barcelona have kicked off the La Liga season with seven straight wins, showing an impressive performance.

However, in their previous fixture Osasuna stunned Barcelona 4-2 at home to end the leaders' perfect run.

This season Lewandowski is the Spanish league's top scorer with seven goals. Villarreal's Ayoze Perez scored six goals to chase the Polish forward.

On Sunday, Hansi Flick's Barcelona will visit mid-table Deportivo Alaves.

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