Scouting Villarreal: Real Madrid’s first rival after the international break

Managing Madrid broke down Villarreal's tactical profile ahead of their clash with Real Madrid following the international break. Under manager Iñigo Pérez, Villarreal recorded two wins, two draws, and three defeats in their opening seven La Liga matches. Despite an inconsistent start, the team generated the third-highest non-penalty expected goals in the league at 13.9, scoring 13 total goals while conceding 12.

The analysis highlights Villarreal's high-pressing approach, maintaining the league's second-lowest PPDA at 9.8 alongside a 67% field tilt. Operating primarily in a 4-4-2 setup, Pape Gueye and Renato Veiga formed the side's primary passing connection, with Gueye leading the squad in expected threat generation.