La Liga Kick-Off: Can Villarreal Halt Atletico's Ambitions?
Estadio de la Ceramica will be the stage for a compelling La Liga encounter on Monday evening, as Villarreal welcome Atletico Madrid to the opening match of the new season.
Villarreal, who finished eighth in La Liga last season, missing out on European football, will be aiming to bounce back and secure a coveted spot in the top seven. The Yellow Submarine have strengthened their squad with the arrivals of Ayoze Perez and Nicolas Pepe, but the departures of top scorer Alexander Sorloth, who joined Atletico, and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen, who moved to Chelsea, are significant losses.
Despite a disappointing 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion in their final pre-season friendly, Villarreal will be looking to start the season on a positive note. However, their recent record against Atletico is underwhelming, having won only one of their last 12 La Liga fixtures against the Red and Whites.
Atletico, on the other hand, finished fourth last season and will be eager to launch a serious title challenge this term. The arrival of Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand, and Sorloth, all of whom are set to be key players, alongside the imminent signing of Conor Gallagher, signals a strong intent from Diego Simeone's side.
The Red and Whites have undergone a significant rebuild, with notable departures including Alvaro Morata, Stefan Savic, Saul Niguez, Mario Hermoso, and Memphis Depay. Their impressive pre-season form, highlighted by a 2-0 victory over Juventus in their final friendly, suggests they are ready to make a statement in the new campaign.
Team News
Villarreal will be without the services of Juan Foyth, Alfonso Pedraza, and Denis Suarez due to injuries. Willy Kambwala is expected to make his debut in the defence, while new signings Sergi Cardona, Perez, Diego Conde, and Pape Gueye are also likely to feature. Gerard Moreno, who often operated out wide last season, is expected to play centrally, alongside Alex Baena and Yeremy Pino.
Atletico's new signing, Julian Alvarez, is set to make his debut, potentially alongside former Villarreal striker Sorloth, who could pose a significant threat to his former club. Joao Felix, who scored against Juventus in their pre-season finale, is expected to leave the club before the transfer window closes, and his inclusion in the starting line-up seems unlikely. Antoine Griezmann is set to lead the attack, with Koke, Marcos Llorente, and Rodrigo De Paul also in line for starting roles.
Predicted Lineups:
Villarreal: Conde; Altimira, Albiol, Kambwala, Cardona; Gueye, Comesana, Baena; Pino, G Moreno, Perez
Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Gimenez, Galan; De Paul, Koke, Llorente; Griezmann, Sorloth, Alvarez
Prediction
Atletico's recent dominance over Villarreal, including a 2-1 victory in the corresponding fixture last season, makes them the favourites for this clash. With the addition of key players and a positive pre-season campaign, Atletico seem poised for a successful start. We predict a 1-2 victory for Atletico, with Sorloth potentially scoring against his former club.
This opening match promises to be a captivating encounter, setting the tone for an exciting La Liga season. Will Villarreal be able to disrupt Atletico's ambitions, or will the Red and Whites demonstrate their title credentials right from the off? Only time will tell.
