Real Madrid return to La Liga action on Thursday against Villarrreal for the first time since being crowned FIFA Club World Cup champions for a third year in a row.
Santiago Solari's men begin 2019 in fourth place in the table, eight points behind leaders Barcelona having played a game less than their fierce rivals.
Meanwhile, Villarreal are enduring a difficult campaign and have spent the winter break in the relegation zone.
A point would be enough to take them out of the bottom three on goal difference, and the Yellow Submarine are unbeaten in two matches since Luis Garcia Plaza replaced Javier Calleja at the helm.