Real Madrid vs Villarreal Odds & Preview La Liga Round 37
- Real Madrid are -250 favorites to defeat Villarreal on Thursday
- A victory would clinch the La Liga title for the Spanish giants. Are they full marks for the three points?
- Analysis of the matchup and predictions on the outcome follow in the ensuing story
There’s no doubt that Real Madrid are the real deal. And that’s why the Spanish super club is on the brink of clinching the deal.
At home to Villarreal on Thursday, a victory will ensure Real Madrid’s La Liga title. It’s almost a foregone conclusion as it currently stands. Real Madrid leads Barcelona by four points with two matches to play.
Real Madrid are solid -250 favorites to come away with that clinching victory. They’ve won their last nine matches.
Real Madrid vs Villarreal La Liga July 16 Odds
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total at FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real Madrid | -250 | -1 (+115) | O 2.5 (-188) |
| Villareal | +600 | +1 (+180) | U 2.5 (+154) |
| Draw | +390 | N/A | N/A |
Odds taken July 13
Villarreal is at lengthy odds of +600 to snatch an unlikely away victory. They’ve lost two of their last three games and have allowed a combined six goals during those two setbacks.
Real Concern
It’s perhaps an indication of just how dominant Real Madrid has proven to be in the post-COVID-19 restart. Currently, the club seems more concerned about the welfare of its own fans than they are worried by any threat that Villarreal might pose.
They are advising fans not to gather to celebrate a victory on Thursday, fearing such partying could ignite a COVID-19 outbreak.
“Real Madrid thanks our members and supporters in advance for their understanding,” the team said in a statement. “All of the effort and work put in by our players, coaching staff and the club towards this possible title success has always been done with a view to sharing the triumph with our fans, but we are aware that the current situation obliges us to maximize the necessary precautionary measures.”
The side got some good news in that regard on Tuesday. Serbian striker Luka Jovic returned to training after testing negative for COVID-19.
Real Madrid is in search of its 34th La Liga title. Their last title came in 2017. Barcelona has topped the league in eight of the past 11 seasons.
Goals Galore
One fact of life when Real Madrid face Villarreal is the webbing in each net figures to get a good workout. The goals have poured in at both ends in recent matches when these two sides clash.
There have been at least four goals scored in each of the last four matches between these two teams. In each of those four games, both sides have tallied a minimum of two goals in every match.
Real Madrid vs Villarreal Stats
| 1 | Table | 5 |
| 25-8-3 | Record | 17-6-13 |
| 66 | Goals For | 58 |
| 22 | Goals Against | 47 |
| 9-0-0 | Last Nine | 6-1-2 |
| 3-5-2 | Head to Head Last 10 | 2-5-3 |
| 14-4-0 | Home | 8-5-5 |
| 11-4-3 | Away | 9-1-8 |
That includes a trio of 2-2 draws and a 3-2 victory by Los Blancos. Just one of the last seven matches have featured a clean sheet.
Odds of -188 on both teams combining to go over 2.5 goals looks like a lock. Considering the recent history, even +146 for over 3.5 goals is a very tempting play.
Fit to Be Tied
As noted earlier, three of the last four matches between these two have ended in draws. Five of their last 10 meetings have concluded with shared points.
The draw wager at +390 will certainly be enticing. However, circumstances dictate that this scenario is vastly different.
Ferland Mendy became the 21st Real Madrid player to score in La Liga this season. The most of any club this century 🤯 pic.twitter.com/JGWBnaZ75G
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 14, 2020
Los Blancos won’t want to leave it to an away match at Leganes on Sunday to clinch the league.
Real Madrid is averaging just under two goals per game through their nine-match win streak. Villarreal has surrendered seven goals in their last three matches.
Pick: Real Madrid (-250)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
