Real Madrid’s Emmanuel Adebayor: Villarreal can defeat Barcelona

Real Madrid striker Emmanuel Adebayor believes that Villarreal can do them a favour by defeating arch rivals Barcelona in the Spanish Primera Division on Saturday.

Barcelona are five points clear at the top of the table in La Liga and face a tough away game at Villarreal, who are currently fighting for a place in the top-four. On the other hand, second-placed Madrid host Sporting Gijon at the Bernabeu.

Villarreal are one of the better sides in Spain and Adebayor is hopeful that the Yellow Submarine can conjure up a shock result against the Spanish champions.

"Villarreal play good football and could cause an upset against Barcelona,” said the Togolese forward, according to Madrid’s official website. “It will be tough for Barça to face Villarreal away from home. I think it’s going to be a very good game. I believe Villarreal have the right instruments to cause big problems for Barcelona."

Looking ahead to their own game against Sporting, the former Arsenal player enthused: "We’re playing at home this Saturday. It will be difficult to open with a goal, but we have to make it easy for ourselves and concentrate 100 per cent to keep our dream of winning the title alive. We have a good record at home and we just have to play our game with both our key men down the wings and our striker up front.

“[Karim] Benzema is currently flying and he will hopefully score two or three goals for us again. It will be tough because visiting sides always want to show off and do their best at the Bernabeu. We’ll have to show them in the opening ten minutes that we don’t kid around and that we’re out there to win the game. I’d bet on us winning this weekend."

Adebayor is currently on loan with the Blancos from English club Manchester City and is slated to return to Eastlands at the end of the season.

However, the 27-year-old is keen to remain at the Bernabeu and stated: "This is a fantastic club. The atmosphere and the way we work are great for players. I hope I stay here as long as possible. I don’t just want to stay here; I want to win titles as well. That’s what I’m here for.

"If I didn’t believe we could win La Liga I wouldn’t play football again. We have to win nine games to dream about winning the title. Don’t get me wrong; it’s not going to be easy, but we have to manage to do that and see what happens next."

Adebayor has scored two goals in nine appearances in La Liga for Madrid so far.