Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal predictions, H2H and match preview for this Sunday’s game in La Liga. Read on for analysis and predicted line-ups as the hosts look to build on a fabulous midweek win.
by Mark Sochon – @marksoc1
Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal Preview
The weekend action in La Liga concludes at the Wanda Metropolitano with Atletico Madrid hoping to build on their impressive Champions League win against Liverpool on Tuesday night. They are up against a Villarreal side that has been something of a bogey team for them in recent years.
Despite allegations of so-called anti-football, there was a real brilliance to what Atletico Madrid did against the runaway Premier League leaders. For the first time pretty much all season, Atleti felt like Atleti again with a passionate, battling display that thwarted the defending champions. They will be hoping to rekindle that spirit here and finally get their league form back on track with just 1 victory in 5 league games for Diego Simeone’s men heading into this.
As for Villarreal, Europa League qualification may be their most realistic target but a good result here would really keep them in the frame for a top four finish. They are only 2 points behind 4th placed Atleti heading into this game and they are in great form with 19 points from their last 8 matches, more than any other team in the division.
Atleti are still nursing their forwards back to fitness and may decide not to risk Diego Costa here with a relapse the last thing they need. That should ensure Angel Correa gets another start alongside Alvaro Morata. Villarreal meanwhile may only make one change from last time out with Pau Torres fit enough to come into the defence.
Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal Predictions
Score Prediction: 1-1 Draw
Villarreal are a team that has historically given Diego Simeone’s Atleti problems and you sense that may continue here. You can never discount Atletico Madrid on a big European night against on paper stronger opposition as Tuesday proved but they still don’t convince when the onus is on them to dictate the running. Villarreal are playing well and have enough about them to get a goal here, which may be all they need to leave with a result with Atleti still short on firepower.
La Liga Betting Tips (18+)
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Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal H2H
- Last 6 Competitive Meetings: 1 Atleti Win, 2 Villarreal Wins, 3 Draws.
- The sides drew 0-0 at the Ceramica when they met in December.
- Atletico Madrid have only won 1 of the last 9 meetings between the sides.
- However that did come in this fixture last season when they beat Villarreal 2-0 at the Wanda Metropolitano.
Predicted Line Ups
Atleti Team:
Oblak – Lodi, Felipe, Savic, Vrsaljko – Vitolo, Thomas, Saul, Koke – Morata, Correa (4-4-2)
Villarreal Team:
Asenjo – Pena, Torres, Albiol, Gaspar – Trigueros, Iborra, Cazorla – Gomez, Alcacer, Moreno (4-3-3)
Check out all our weekend La Liga match previews and predictions here!
Elsewhere this Sunday in La Liga
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