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Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction

by Alex Lawes ·
Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!

Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid recovered from a defeat to Leganes with a come from behind win over Bayer Leverkusen the other day ahead of facing an entertaining Villarreal this weekend.

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 25th January, 2025: UK – 3:15pm / US ET – 10:15am / US PT – 7:15am

How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal may be televised on one of their affiliated channels

How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+

Atletico Madrid Team News: Couple of suspensions

Atletico have a couple of key suspensions ahead of the visit to the Metropolitano with the left-side of Los Rojiblancos’ defence, Clement Lenglet and Javi Galan, picking up their fifth yellow cards of the season in that game at Butarque against Leganes last weekend.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Nahuel Molina, Le Normand, Jose Maria Gimenez, Samuel Lino; Giuliano Simeone, De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Gallagher; Griezmann, Julian Alvarez

Unavailable: Lenglet (Suspended), Javi Galan (Suspended)

Questionable: Sorloth (Injured)

Villarreal Team News: No need to change

After such an impressive performance against Mallorca last week, there is no need for Villarreal to change with no fresh injury concerns. However, Morocco international attacking midfielder Ilias Akhomach is sidelined due to a knee injury.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Junior; Kiko Femenia, Foyth, Costa, Sergi Cardona; Yeremy Pino, Gueye, Dani Parejo, Alex Baena; Gerard, Barry

Unavailable: Akhomach (Injured)

Questionable: Conde (Injured), Alfonso Pedraza (Injured)

Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal Prediction

Atletico Madrid had their 15-match winning streak across all competitions ended by that frustrating 1-0 defeat to struggling Leganes last week but they then came from behind to defeat Bayer Leverkusen by two goals to one in the UEFA Champions League in midweek despite being down to ten men due to Pablo Barrios’ red card. They now face a Villarreal that overcame a poor run of recent form to hammer Real Mallorca by four goals to nil last weekend with all four goals coming in the opening half an hour of the match. Atleti have been much more entertaining to watch this season, whilst the Yellow Submarine’s 20 La Liga matches consisting of 69 goals so both teams scoring looks a good bet for this one in the Spanish capital. 

Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal Tip: Both teams to score

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