Prediction: Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 107/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet

Estadio de la Ceramica will set the stage for a fascinating La Liga clash on Monday evening, as Villarreal host Atletico Madrid in the opening gameweek of the 2024/25 season.

Villarreal, after finishing eighth last season, narrowly missed out on European qualification. Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid secured fourth place, ensuring their participation in the Champions League once again. Both teams will be eager to start their campaigns on a positive note, with Villarreal seeking redemption after a disappointing season, and Atletico looking to maintain their status as one of Spain’s top clubs.

Villarreal

Villarreal’s 2023/24 La Liga season ended in disappointment, as they finished eighth and missed out on European qualification for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign. This marked just the second season since their return to the top flight in 2013 that the Yellow Submarine finished outside the top seven.

Determined to reclaim a European spot this term, Villarreal have strengthened their squad with six new signings, including Ayoze Perez and Nicolas Pepe. However, they also experienced significant losses, with last season’s top scorer Alexander Sorloth moving to Atletico Madrid in a major deal, and goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen joining Chelsea.

Under the guidance of Marcelino, Villarreal had a relatively quiet pre-season, playing just four friendlies, and they come into this match after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion. Last season, they lost both La Liga encounters against Atletico Madrid, and have only managed one victory in their last 12 league meetings with the Rojiblancos, a 2-0 win in Madrid in August 2022.

Team News

Villarreal will be missing three key first-team players for their opening La Liga clash against Atletico Madrid, with Juan Foyth, Alfonso Pedraza, and Denis Suarez all unavailable for selection.

Several new signings are expected to make their debuts in this match. Willy Kambwala is likely to start in defence, while Sergi Cardona, Ayoze Perez, Diego Conde, and Pape Gueye are also in contention for starting roles on Monday night.

Gerard Moreno, who spent much of last season playing in wide areas, is anticipated to move into a central striking position this term. Meanwhile, Alex Baena and Yeremy Pino are expected to be included in Marcelino’s starting lineup as Villarreal look to begin the new campaign with a strong performance.

Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid head into their opening La Liga clash against Villarreal with strong momentum, aiming to extend their unbeaten away record against the Yellow Submarine, held since March 2018. Diego Simeone’s side, who finished fourth last season, are looking to make a statement from the outset as they attempt to mount a title challenge this term.

After finishing 19 points behind champions Real Madrid last season, Atletico have made significant squad improvements and expect at least a top-three finish in 2024/25. The signings of Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand, and Alexander Sorloth are set to immediately bolster the starting lineup, and a deal for Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is reportedly nearing completion.

Alvaro Morata has been the most significant departure for Atletico this summer, along with the exits of Stefan Savic, Saul Niguez, Mario Hermoso, and Memphis Depay. Despite these losses, Simeone’s squad displayed impressive form in pre-season, securing four wins, including a 2-0 triumph over Juventus in their final friendly, with Joao Felix and Angel Correa getting the goals.

Atletico will be looking to carry that form into their first competitive game, as they aim for a victory to kickstart their La Liga campaign.

Team News

Julian Alvarez is set to make his Atletico Madrid debut following his high-profile transfer from Manchester City, and he may be joined by Alexander Sorloth in the attacking line. Sorloth, who netted 26 goals for Villarreal last season—including 23 in La Liga—will face his former club, potentially posing a serious threat in this encounter.

While Joao Felix found the net against Juventus in a recent friendly, his future appears to lie away from Atletico, making his involvement unlikely as he nears an exit. Antoine Griezmann, however, is expected to feature in the starting lineup, alongside key midfielders Koke, Marcos Llorente, and Rodrigo De Paul.

Conclusion

Atletico Madrid’s impressive recent record against Villarreal, which includes a 2-1 victory in the corresponding fixture last season, suggests they could secure a similar result in this La Liga opener.

With Sorloth likely to face his former club, he could very well find the net, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the contest.

Verdict: Away win

Best odds: 107/100

Bookmaker: ZetBet