Real Madrid return to the scene of the crime

Real Madrid return to the scene of the crime

Wednesday night saw Real Madrid endure a fruitless journey to the east coast, and not for the first time with Los Blancos now drawn back to Valencia for a crack at the region's other footballing powerhouse, Villarreal.

A repeat of the 2-1 loss at Estadio Mestalla will need to be avoided at Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday as Real see out the second half of a week previously deemed crucial to their title ambitions.

The Yellow Submarine are, however, arguably the last team Zinedine Zidanewould like to come up against.

Beating Madrid 1-0 in their most recent Castellon meeting, Villarreal are a team readily equipped to play above their usual level and have the precedent of a draw back in the Spanish capital earlier in the season already in the bank.

But it's Real's record in Valencia generally that may worry their fans the most, with last week's defeat adding to two disparate performances at the Mestalla that contributed to the downfall of Zidane's two predecessors.

A 2-2 draw on January 3, 2016, between Los Che and Los Merengues sent Rafa Benitez packing and Carlo Ancelotti's failure to win the 2014/15 title was largely down to a slump in form after the Club World Cup which included a loss to Valencia.