Real Madrid v Villarreal LIVE - Can defending champions turn up the heat on Barcelona?

If Villarreal are to cause the hosts problems, Chukwueze likely needs to have a lively night.

The Real Madrid manager insists his side will "keep fighting" in the league, despite being 12 points behind Barcelona.

"We want to finish the season strongly, which means winning other trophies, and that'd be spectacular," Ancelotti said before this match. "We’re also thinking about the league. The league games help us to maintain good form and a good atmosphere, and until it's mathematically impossible to win, we're going to keep fighting it."

There was also praise for David Alaba, who starts today amid what has been a frustrating campaign. Alaba is "part of the reason why we have kept two clean sheets in these [last] two games," his manager insisted.

Today's visitors have won away at Real Madrid only once in La Liga - back in 2017-18. They've lost on 15 visits and left with a point on six occasions.

Af the last 11 league games between these two, six have been draws. Real Madrid have won three and Villarreal two.

A reminder of what happened last time Real Madrid were in action - with Benzema at his ruthless best.

The on-loan Tottenham midfielder - a key man for Villarreal - is back for this one. No Gerard Moreno and Nicolas Jackson is suspended, so it falls on a couple of wingers to lead the attack.

Villarreal: Reina, Foyth, Mandi, Torres, Pedraza, Terraats, Parejo, Baena, Lo Celso, Chukwueze, Pino.

With an eye on Wednesday's Champions League game, perhaps, Carlo Ancelotti makes six changes from the side that beat Barcelona 4-0 so sensationally last time out. That includes giving rests to midfield trio Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Federico Valverde. It's a very attacking line-up all told, with Karim Benzema and Vinicius Junior both starting.

Real Madrid: Courtois, Nacho, Rudiger, Alaba, Lucas Vazquez, Tchouameni, Ceballos, Asensio, Rodrygo, Vinicius, Benzema.

Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Real Madrid's clash with Villarreal. Fresh from a brilliant result in midweek, can the hosts close the gap to Barcelona and maintain a faltering title challenge? Villarreal need the points for their own top-four bid so should be no pushovers. Team news on the way next...