Real Madrid return home after the Christmas break to host Villarreal in matchday 18 of La Liga. Huntelaar and Lass may see their first action as the newest members of the squad, while Dani Parejo is unavailable after spraining his knee in training. The two title candidates are tied in points in the league table.

Real Madrid kick off the new year by hosting Villarreal on Sunday at 17:00 CET. The Whites hope to extend their win streak after knocking off Valencia in the final match of 2008.

Dani Parejo was a last minute scratch after spraining his knee in training. Gonzalo Higuaín is also out battling a bout of tonsilitis, and Miguel Torres will remain home with the flu. Jordi Codina, Marcelo and Javi García were not included on the squad list, but Lass and Huntelaar may be given the green light to debut as Madridistas.

Villarreal coach Manuel Pellegrini will be without Javi Venta and Jozy Altidore, both of whom are injured. Pascal Cygan and Jose Edmilson were not called up by the Chilean, but all four forwards -Joseba Llorente, Guille Franco, Nihat Kahveci and Giussepe Rossi- are healthy for the first time this season.

The Yellow Submarine has never won in Chamartin. Three of their nine visits in the last ten years have resulted in draws, while the other six were won by Real Madrid.

Villarreal begin the new year on the same stage that hosted their Primera Division debut on 31 August 1998, but much has changed since the then heavy underdogs succumb to the Madridistas 4-1. Both teams are annual title contenders and destined to square off for many years to come with more than just pride at stake.

SQUAD LIST:

Real Madrid’s two most recent signings are on the first squad list of the new year. Huntelaar and Lass are ready to make their Madridista debuts and can do so on Sunday against Villarreal. Sergio Ramos, Heinze, Pepe and Sneijder are also fit for action after sitting out the last match against Valencia. Higuaín and Parejo are out for health reasons, while Torres, Marcelo, Codina and Javi García were not called up by Juande Ramos.

Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek;

Defenders: Ramos, Salgado, Heinze, Pepe, Cannavaro, Metzelder;

Midfielders: Guti, Gago, Lass, Sneijder, Robben, Drenthe, Van der Vaart;

Forwards: Palanca, Raúl, Huntelaar, Saviola;