Alvaro Arbeloa Lauds Jude Bellingham’s ‘Winning Spirit’ as Real Madrid Gears Up for Villarreal Showdown

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    <p>Álvaro Arbeloa's team has had a successful week with two victories, setting the stage for an important La Liga clash against Villarreal on Saturday. They secured a 2-0 win over Levante at the Bernabéu, followed by a 6-1 defeat of AS Monaco in Madrid. The new manager faced a rocky start after the loss to Barcelona that resulted in the firing of his predecessor, Xabi Alonso, and a surprising exit from the Copa del Rey against a lower-tier team. However, Real Madrid is now just one point away from La Liga leaders Barcelona, who earned a draw with Real Sociedad last weekend. Villarreal, their next opponent, currently sits in third place.</p>

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    <p>Arbeloa commented on the squad, particularly addressing Jude Bellingham's situation, who faced some criticism from home supporters last week alongside Vinicius Jr. He stated, "I need to discuss the situation I see right now, but it’s not a significant issue as it’s been only a few days. He has performed excellently in both games and training. From the beginning, he demonstrated his skills, technique, leadership, and character as a player. His recent efforts truly reflect his dedication." Arbeloa expressed his satisfaction with Bellingham's mindset and contributions, emphasizing the attributes that make him a valuable asset for Real Madrid.</p>

    <p>Here's what to know ahead of the match.</p>

    <h2>How to watch Villarreal vs. Real Madrid, odds</h2>
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        <li><strong>Date:</strong> Saturday, January 24th | <strong>Time:</strong> 3:00 PM ET</li>
        <li><strong>Location:</strong> Ceramics Stadium -- Villarreal</li>
        <li><strong>Stream:</strong> ESPN+</li>
        <li><strong>Odds:</strong> Villarreal +220; Draw +275; Real Madrid +108</li>
    </ul>

    <h2>Possible lineup</h2>
    <p><strong>Villarreal XI:</strong> Lewis Junior, Pau Navarro, Juan Foyth, Renato Veiga, Sergi Cardona, Tajon Buchanan, Pape Gueye, Daniel Parejo, Alberto Moreiro, Gerard Moreno, Georges Micautase.</p>
    <p><strong>Real Madrid XI:</strong> Thibaut Courtois, Federico Valverde, Raul Asensio, Dean Huisén, Alvaro Carreras, Alda Guler, Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastatuono, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr., Kylian Mbappe.</p>

    <h2>Prediction</h2>
    <p>Real Madrid are the favorites going into Saturday's match, but Villarreal's strong performances this season, especially in La Liga, should not be overlooked. <strong>Prediction:</strong> Real Madrid 2, Villarreal 1.</p>
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