In all likelihood, there's not much Villarreal can do to slow down Madrid's world-class attack, save for knocking Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil out with dirty tackles. Then again, the Yellow Submarine wouldn't be any better off playing six-on-11 as they would with a full squad against Jose Mourinho's maestros.
Realistically, the only difference Villarreal's defense can make is that between a narrow defeat and an embarrassing one. Villarreal wasted little time making a change after Sunday's loss to Levante, sacking manager Jose Francisco Molina after less than a year on the job.
Predicted composition of Players
Villarreal : Lopez, Zapata, Musacchio, Oriol, Mario, Senna, Soriano, Castellani, Ruben, Nilmar, Martinuccio.
Absent : Valero, Cani, Catala, G. Rossi (cedera), Marchena (hukuman).
Real Madrid : Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Khedira, Alonso, Ozil, Kaka, Ronaldo, Benzema.
Absent : Albiol, Di Maria, Altintop (cedera).