Atletico Madrid are coming off of a shock 1-0 win over Liverpool in their Champions League last 16 first leg. Los Rojiblancos scored a scrappy set-piece goal and subsequently shut up shop to defeat the Reds.
Now, Diego Simeone’s team will host fellow La Liga side Villarreal on Sunday night at the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium. Atletico Madrid are fourth in La Liga thanks to goal difference and Sevilla are breathing down their neck in the race for the top four.
Both teams continue to drop points in the league making the race for Champions League qualification tight. Atletico Madrid could go into the weekend outside of the top four depending on Sevilla’s result.
Villarreal have improved this season after fighting relegation a year ago. The Yellow Submarine are sixth in La Liga and just two points off of the top four. A win on Sunday away from home would send Villarreal above Atletico Madrid in the La Liga table.
Atletico Madrid are unbeaten in their last three games against Villarreal, but only one of those three games ended in a Rojiblancos’ win. That win came last season at the Metropolitano Stadium 2-0. The two Spanish rivals’ match from earlier this season finished nil-nil in a dull affair.
Simeone’s side have the fourth-best points total at home this season. They have collected 25 points from 36 possible. Remarkably, Atletico Madrid have conceded just six goals at home as the team are built on defence.
Villarreal have taken 16 points from 36 possible on their travels. Manager Javier Calleja has led his team to four matches without a defeat in La Liga away from home. Three of their last four away matches ended in victories.
Goals have not been plentiful for Villarreal away from home with just 17 tallied by the Yellow Submarine. They will find it difficult to score against Atletico Madrid’s stout defence.
Los Rojiblancos have kept back to back clean sheets against Villarreal. They should be able to hold the Yellow Submarine once more to a scoreless game at the Metropolitano.
Villarreal have played well against Atletico Madrid in recent seasons, but Simeone’s team are flying high after beating Liverpool. The manager is getting players back to full fitness which will benefit the team when Villarreal arrive.
Diego Costa is the latest player to return to fitness. He played the final minutes against Liverpool in the Champions League on Tuesday night.
tletico Madrid should win to nil for the second straight time at home versus Villarreal. Expect under 2.5 goals as Los Rojiblancos continue their latest good run of form.