Pau Torres has scored three own goals in La Liga - all against Clasico teams.

He netted two own goals against Barcelona in different games in 2020.

End to end now as Pepe Reina denies Karim Benzema from a tight angle and also Rodrygo's attempt to clip the ball past him.

Big chance for Villarreal to equalise as a cross is headed into the path of Alex Baena, whose first-time shot is straight at Thibaut Courtois.

A VAR graphic shows Pau Torres was the one keeping Vinicius Jr onside in that move too. Nightmare.

First chance of the game as Vinicius Jr runs onto a quick free-kick and curls a shot just wide of the far post.

Real left-back Nacho bombs forward onto a David Alaba through ball and gets into the box but can't speed away and his cross hits a defender.

He's more of a centre-back than a wing-back.

A bit of a defensive mix-up between David Alaba and Thibaut Courtois and the Real defender boots the ball out of play to be safe.

Villarreal have actually dominated possession so far, with 56.9% of the ball. No shots for either team yet.

The game hasn't really come to life yet. Few passes, few tackles.

Real Madrid are in the middle of three games in eight days - and this is the least important.

Last Wednesday they thrashed Barcelona 4-0 at the Nou Camp to reach the Copa del Rey final.

Next Wednesday they host Chelsea in the Champions League quarter-final first leg.

Couple of early corners to Real Madrid.

The second one is played short, Lucas Vazquez crosses and Antonio Rudiger's powerful header is saved by Pepe Reina.

Rudiger was offside though.

Real Madrid have won just three of their last 11 meetings with Villarreal in La Liga, and none of their last three.

A man kicks a ball backwards from the dead centre of the field and that means this game of association football has officially started.

Villarreal boss Quique Setien says it is very difficult to prepare for a game with Real Madrid.

“You never know what is better or worse against Madrid," the former Barcelona boss said.

"You don’t know if it’s better to dominate or to be dominated, whether to have chances from the start or to score at the end.

"It’s a different team to all the others. With Madrid, it’s always indecipherable. You don’t know what their reactions will be, your moments to hurt them. It’s complicated to prepare for a game like this."

Image source, .

Carlo Ancelotti believes Karim Benzema, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos will stay with Real Madrid next season.

The long-serving trio are all out of contract this summer but Ancelotti said "they are talking" about new deals.

Former France striker Benzema, 35, and Croatia midfielder Modric, 37, have won five Champions League titles with Real since 2014, while ex-Germany midfielder Kroos, 33, has won four.

"I think that in the end they will look for a solution," said Ancelotti.

"There are advances, because they are talking."

Although Kroos and Modric have played slightly less often this season, Benzema remains the team's top scorer and claimed a hat-trick in Wednesday's Copa del Rey win over Barcelona.

"I think [they] will stay," Ancelotti added. "We have to evaluate the players not by their age but by what they do."

Twelve points behind leaders Barcelona with 11 games to go, surely Real Madrid's reign as champions is going to be over soon.

But they won't give it up without a fight.

In their way today are sixth-placed Villarreal. Lose this and they can start etching Barcelona's name on the trophy.