Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal Preview: Team News & Prediction
by Alex Lawes ·
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
Atletico Madrid made a positive start to the 2026-27 La Liga season as Los Rojiblancos remain at the Metropolitano with the visit of Villarreal to the capital city.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / USA – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so any game may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
How to watch online: UK – Premier Player / USA – ESPN+
Atletico Madrid preview: Strong start
In midweek, Atletico Madrid eased to an eventually comfortable 2-0 defeat of newly-promoted Malaga at the Metropolitano, courtesy of goals scored by South Korea international Lee Kang-in and FIFA World Cup 2026 winner Alex Baena.
Diego Simeone has once again been given a fair bit of money to spend as Atletico opt to stand by the highest-paid manager in Europe. Cristian Romero was the latest addition after the signings of Lee, Morten Hjulmand and Alex Grimaldo.
Villarreal preview: Entertaining opener
Villarreal also faced a newly-promoted side as they travelled to El Sardinero in Cantabria to share a thrilling 2-2 draw with Racing Santander with all four goals scored in the first half as The Yellow Submarine fought back from 2-0 down.
Inigo Perez, who led Rayo Vallecano to the final of the UEFA Europa Conference League last season, has replaced Marcelino. Marcelino had led Villarreal to third place last season and the first time ever they achieved successive UEFA Champions League qualifications.
Atletico Madrid team news: Changes to the squad
Diego Simeone has said Julian Alvarez will remain at the club but an internal suspension saw him left out of the game against Malaga due to his declarations of wanting to depart this summer, while Cristian Romero may make the squad this time around.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Dani Martinez; Rodri Mendoza, Koke, Pablo Barrios, Alex Baena; Lee, Lookman
Unavailable: Sorloth (Injured)
Questionable: Romero (Fitness), Obed Vargas (Out of favour), Lemar (Out of favour), Julian Alvarez (Out of favour)
Villarreal team news: Fully fit
Needed for the intensity to which his team plays, Inigo Perez has been blessed with a fully fit and available squad with no injury concerns or suspension issues at the start of this season.
Predicted XI (4-4-2): Luiz Junior; Santiago Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Carlos Romero; Pepe, Santi Comesana, Gueye, Alberto Moleiro; Ayoze, Mikautadze
Unavailable:
Questionable:
Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal prediction
Atletico Madrid have massively moved away from the reputation and stereotype of Diego Simeone and his ‘Cholismo’ style of football, playing a much more entertaining style. Atleti did manage a clean sheet against Malaga but remained fairly open, especially late on. Villarreal will take time to shift from Marcelino’s conservative style to the intensity and aggression of Inigo Perez but they still boast a very strong attack in terms of personnel anyway and so both teams scoring seems a good bet, albeit Atleti will be confident of beginning the season with back-to-back victories given their home advantage.
Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal tip: Atletico Madrid to win & both teams to score
