Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid. Prediction and Preview. Probable Lineups, Team News, Stats, and more

Villarreal CF will host Atletico de Madrid in the La Liga 30th-round match at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The fixture will take place on Tuesday, April 2, beginning at 00:30 IST.

Parimatch News will tell you everything you need to know ahead of the upcoming match.

Villarreal News & Current Form: 

Earlier this year, the team found itself in the 14th position within the standings. However, under the leadership of Marcelino Toral, they have significantly advanced, now positioned squarely in the middle and merely 8 points shy of the European Cup contention. Coach’s appointment has brought about a transformation in the ethos of Villarreal.

The crux of Toral’s influence lies in recalibrating the players’ mindset and refining the team’s style of play towards a more assertive, attacking approach. This strategic shift has engendered a newfound stability within the team. Recent performances have propelled the Yellow Submarine back into the upper echelons of the league, currently occupying the ninth spot, albeit still distant from the top six.

Remarkably, Villarreal has remained undefeated in La Liga since succumbing to a 3:0 defeat against UD Las Palmas in mid-January, amassing an impressive nine consecutive rounds without a loss, including five draws and four successive victories. Such a sustained unbeaten streak has not been witnessed since December 2020. As the championship nears its conclusion, Villarreal are evoking memories of their commendable fifth-place finish in the previous season.

Their recent triumphs include notable victories over formidable opponents such as Real Sociedad (1:3), Granada CF (5:1), Real Betis (2:3), and Valencia CF (1:0) just prior to the international hiatus. Notably, solitary goal of defender Jorge Cuenca in the match against Valencia underscored their resilience, despite a missed penalty opportunity earlier in the game. Alexander Sørloth has been a pivotal figure in these encounters, contributing three goals and as many assists, a testament to Toral’s tactical prowess in orchestrating dynamic offensive plays that confound opposing defenses.

Norwegian Alexander Sørloth scored 3 goals in 4 recent meetings

However, despite their domestic resurgence, Villarreal faced disappointment in the UEFA Europa League, bowing out in the round of 1/8 finals to Olympique de Marseille in March. Moreover, looming challenges await with fixtures against Atletico Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. Notably, Villarreal’s home performances have been middling, currently ranked 14th in La Liga, having garnered a modest 19 points from 15 matches.

Compounding their challenges is an extensive injury list, with key players such as defenders Raul Albiol, Eric Bailly, Juan Foyth, and Alfonso Pedraza sidelined, along with backup goalkeeper Pepe Reina. Midfielders Denis Suarez and Ramón Terrats are also unavailable, while season-ending injury further exacerbates their roster woes of top scorer Yeremy Pino. Suspension of Alberto Moreno and accumulation of yellow cards by Kiko Femenia further compound their personnel shortages, while uncertainty looms over the fitness of Francis Coquelin.

Atletico Madrid News & Current Form: 

Atletico Madrid find themselves trailing Real Madrid CF by a significant margin, effectively relinquishing any realistic aspirations for the La Liga title. Their hopes for domestic silverware were dashed in the Copa del Rey semifinals, where they succumbed to Athletic Bilbao with a resounding 0:4 aggregate defeat. Nevertheless, Antoine Griezmann and Co. remain resolute in their pursuit of securing coveted UEFA Champions League berths for the forthcoming season.

Diego Simeone – coach of Atletico Madrid, who completely transformed the team

Despite their domestic setbacks, Atletico have managed to preserve their European campaign, overcoming FC Inter Milan in the round of 16 with a dramatic 2:2 draw after extra time, ultimately prevailing in the penalty shootout. Their upcoming challenge in the esteemed continental competition pits them against Borussia Dortmund, a draw perceived as favorable for the Spanish.

Their clash with the Italian giants saw Atletico exhibit unwavering determination, though questions linger regarding the toll exacted to achieve such a triumph and its impact on domestic form. Manager Diego Simeone, in their quest for European success, faced the daunting task of compromising domestic consistency.

The recent international break provided a much-needed respite for the players, affording them an opportunity to recuperate and arrest their decline. Notably, star forward Antoine Griezmann, absent from the national team’s March training camp due to injury, is poised to return to action. In 37 appearances across all competitions for Atletico Madrid, the Frenchman has tallied an impressive 19 goals and provided seven assists.

Concerns among supporters were exacerbated by successive defeats to struggling opponents, notably a 0:2 loss to relegation-threatened Cadiz and a humbling 0:3 home defeat to FC Barcelona in the 29th round. The latter match underscored Atletico’s offensive impotence and defensive vulnerability, as their Catalan counterparts capitalized on nearly every scoring opportunity. Atletico’s current predicament is reflected in their inability to find the back of the net in consecutive league fixtures, a rarity not witnessed since April 2022.

Moreover, their struggles extend to away fixtures, with Atletico enduring a winless streak on the road since their victory over Granada on January 22. Their away record of four wins in 14 matches underscores their inconsistency outside the familiar confines of their home ground.

Ahead of their upcoming fixtures, Atletico faces personnel challenges, with Argentina’s FIFA World Cup winner Angel Correa and the prolific Alvaro Morata vying for attacking positions, while Saul Niguez assumes midfield duties in place of the injured Rodrigo Riquelme. Defensive stalwarts such as Jose Maria Gimenez and Mario Hermoso remain sidelined, compounding Simeone’s selection woes.

Villarreal form guide: W-W-L-W-W-W

Atletico Madrid form guide: D-L-W-L-W-L

Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid Head-To-Head Record:

• August 21, 2022: Atletico Madrid 0 – 2 Villarreal (La Liga);
• June 4, 2023: Villarreal 2 – 2 Atlético Madrid (La Liga);
• November 12, 2023: Atletico Madrid 3 – 1 Villarreal (La Liga).

Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid Predicted XI:

Villarreal’s possible starting lineup (4-4-2): Jorgensen; Romero, Mosquera, Mandi, Cuenca; Traore, Comesana, Parejo, Baena; G Moreno, Sorloth.

Atletico Madrid’s possible starting lineup (3-5-2): Oblak; Savic, Witsel, Reinildo; Llorente, Koke, Barrios, Saul, Lino; Griezmann, Morata.

Statistical preview of the match Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid:

• Villarreal’s First XI average age is 27.5 years, and Madrid’s First XI average age is  30.0 years.
• The total value of Villarreal’s squad is 213 mln euros, while the total of Atletico comes up to 417 mln euros.
• Mario Melero Lopez has been appointed as the center referee. The referee has already served 11 games this season, showing an average of 3.8 Yellow Cards and also whistles 24 fouls per game. 
• At least three goals were scored in four of the five previous matches involving Atletico. 
• Both teams have scored in 23 of the previous 29 matches involving the home side.
• Villarreal have an average of 1.6 xG, while Atletico have an average of 1.64 xG on the season.
• Villarreal players are caught offside 2.6 times on average and the visitors are caught offside exactly four times per game.
• Villarreal players foul 12.85 times on average and Atletico players foul 11.2 times.
• Under Marcelino, Villarreal have an average of 5.88 corner kicks at home, while Atletico have an average total of 5.07 corners per game away. Ten of the 13 previous head-to-head meetings have seen at least ten corner kicks.
• 1.88 yellow cards are received by the home team during home matches and 2.43 cards are received by Madrid during away games.
• Villarreal did not lose in 7 out of 8 past face-to-face confrontations with Atletico on their field in the Primera.
• In the first round, Atletico defeated the upcoming opponent on their field with a score of 3:1.
• Atletico lost the last two meetings, Villarreal are on a series of four wins in La Liga.

What has been said before the match:

Marcelino Toral about winning the La Liga Manager of the Month Award and having  a difficult match ahead of them:

“Atletico are a very tough team to play against, with Simeone at the helm for 13 years, which shows his great ability. It is a reference in this leap in quality and maintenance of level. A big Champions League team, which will play in the quarter-finals and compete for titles. It has an extraordinary coach and is a great club.”

“It will be very difficult, but with our fans, at our ground where we have shown ourselves to be more solid, we believe we can win. It’s our attitude and the commitment with which we will start this match.”

“The results will tell in the end, but it’s very difficult. There are 27 points to play for and we are two and three games away from the European places and there are two very difficult games coming up. The most sensible thing to do is to think about tomorrow’s game.”

“I’m satisfied, let’s say it’s an individual distinction but it’s not really. It’s the work of the whole staff and the players who achieve the victories. If you don’t win, the coach doesn’t get any distinction. I’m very happy, but I’m sharing it with the coaching staff, the club and especially the players, who are the ones who bring us joy.”

Gaffer of Los Colchoneros Diego Simeone about the 9 matches left in the season:

“There are nine matches to go, it’s difficult to plan for a match like the one tomorrow. We’ll start with what we’re doing well, and what we have to improve, and try to do those things well away from home. Villarreal know what they’re doing, they’ve interpreted what the coach has proposed very well since he arrived.”

Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid Prediction:

Villarreal has improved considerably since Marcelino’s arrival, making a generally superb run before the international break, yet there is no guarantee that this form will be unchanged after a two-week downtime. The Yellow Submarine are still unable to achieve stability, occasionally producing matches like the one against Marseille (0:4), creating just 0.3 xG. Reliability in the defence is still lacking, with Villarreal CF conceding at least 1 goal in 8 of their last 10 meetings. There is often a certain inertness in the transition phases. However, the team’s core strength is in the offensive intensity and productivity. 

Atletico is higher in class but does not excel at defeating all opponents consecutively. They are the best at home in the Elite Division but have serious problems on the road. The Red-Whites have won only 4 of their 14 away matches in the league and drawn three times. During this period of time, the Mattress Makers have scored 20 goals and conceded 18. The team suffered a decline, but Diego Simeone and his boys clearly utilised the national team break to reset. It’s also worth noting that Madrid haven’t lost at Villarreal since March 2018, but four of the five previous Estadio de la Cerámica matches between these rivals ended in a draw. And four of those five meetings have recorded at least two goals scored.

The Yellow Submarine may surprise with their execution and ideas, but Los Rojiblancos will be in the ultimate fighting mood, determined to battle for 3 points. The match will be eventful. The rested teams should delight with spectacular football and performance. The rivals have an excellent selection of performers and have a well-placed game in attack, but at the same time there is a lack of quality in defence, Atletico’s problems on the road are especially striking. The history of head-to-head meetings and other factors suggest an abundance of goals from both sides. 

Parimatch News staff prediction:

We say: Both teams have scored and the total of the match will be over 2.5 – Yes.

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