Villarreal will welcome Atletico Madrid in their 2024/25 La Liga curtain-raiser on Monday night.
The Estadio de la Ceramica will be the stage for an intriguing La Liga clash on Monday evening, as Villarreal host Atletico Madrid in the first game of the 2024/25 La Liga campaign. Both teams have different ambitions heading into the season, with Villarreal aiming to bounce back from a disappointing 2023/24 season, while Atletico Madrid looks to assert themselves as title contenders once again.
Villarreal finished eighth in La Liga last season, missing out on European football for the first time since the 2018/19 campaign. This underwhelming finish marks ocnly the second time they have ended lower than seventh since their return to the top flight in 2013. As a result, the Yellow Submarine will be highly motivated to secure a European spot this season. To bolster their squad, Villarreal has made six new signings over the summer, including notable additions like Ayoze Perez and Nicolas Pepe.
However, the summer has not been without its setbacks for Villarreal, as they have lost two key players. Last season’s leading goalscorer, Alexander Sorloth, made a big-money move to Atletico Madrid, while promising goalkeeper Filip Jorgensen has joined Chelsea. These departures leave Villarreal with some gaps to fill as they begin the new season.
Pre-season results have been mixed for Villarreal, with only four friendlies played, culminating in a heavy 4-0 defeat to Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion. Their recent record against Atletico Madrid also raises concerns, as Villarreal lost both league meetings with the Red and Whites last season and have only managed one win in their last 12 La Liga fixtures against them, a 2-0 victory in Madrid back in August 2022.
Atletico Madrid, on the other hand, is aiming to make a strong start to the season as they look to challenge for the title. The capital giants finished fourth in La Liga last term, trailing champions Real Madrid by 19 points. However, with an impressive transfer window, Atletico is setting their sights on at least a top-three finish this time around.
Diego Simeone’s side has strengthened significantly over the summer, bringing in Julian Alvarez, Robin Le Normand, and Alexander Sorloth, all of whom are expected to be key figures in the starting XI. Additionally, a deal for Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher is reportedly close to completion, further bolstering their midfield options.
Atletico’s departures include Alvaro Morata, along with Stefan Savic, Saul Niguez, Mario Hermoso, and Memphis Depay. Despite these exits, the squad remains strong, as evidenced by their impressive pre-season form, which included four wins. Their final friendly saw a 2-0 victory over Juventus, with Joao Felix and Angel Correa finding the back of the net.
As Atletico Madrid travels to Villarreal, they will be keen to extend their unbeaten run away from home against the Yellow Submarine, which dates back to March 2018. A victory on Monday would send a clear message to their rivals that they are serious contenders for the La Liga title this season.
For Villarreal, the match represents an opportunity to start the new campaign on the right foot and show that they are ready to challenge for European places once again. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up for the night and what tactics they might employ.
Team News & Tactics
Villarreal
Villarreal will face Atletico Madrid without three key first-team players, as Juan Foyth, Alfonso Pedraza, and Denis Suarez are all unavailable for selection due to various issues. These absences will force manager Marcelino to make some adjustments to his lineup as he looks to start the new La Liga campaign on a positive note.
Several debutants are expected to feature in Villarreal’s starting XI, with Willy Kambwala likely to be included in the defensive line. Additionally, new signings Sergi Cardona, Ayoze Perez, Diego Conde, and Pape Gueye are all in line to make their first official appearances for the Yellow Submarine on Monday night.
Gerard Moreno, who spent much of last season operating in a wide role, is expected to return to his more natural position through the middle, where his goal-scoring instincts can be fully utilized. Supporting him in the attack will likely be Alex Baena and Yeremy Pino, both of whom are set to start for Villarreal. This combination of experience and new talent will be crucial as Villarreal aims to challenge Atletico Madrid and secure a strong start to the season.
Villarreal are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with czproviding a reliable presence between the posts. The backline will feature Ruben Altimira at right-back, Raúl Albiol and Willy Kambwala forming the central defensive partnership, and Sergi Cardona occupying the left-back position.
In midfield, Pape Gueye will play as the defensive midfielder, offering protection to the back four, while Santi Comesaña and Álex Baena will operate as central midfielders, tasked with controlling the tempo and linking play between defence and attack.
The front three will see Jeremy Pino on the right wing, Gerard Moreno playing through the middle as the central striker, and Ayoze Pérez on the left wing, combining pace, creativity, and goalscoring potential to spearhead Villarreal’s attack.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Conde; Altimira, Albiol, Kambwala, Cardona; Gueye, Comesana, Baena; Pino, G Moreno, Perez
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid are set to feature some exciting new faces in their lineup, with Julian Alvarez expected to make his debut following a high-profile move from Manchester City. Alvarez could be joined in the attack by Alexander Sorloth, who was Villarreal’s top scorer last season, netting 26 goals across all competitions, including 23 in La Liga.
Sorloth’s return to face his former club adds an intriguing storyline to the match, as he has the potential to make a significant impact against the Yellow Submarine. Although Joao Felix found the back of the net against Juventus in Atletico’s last outing, the Portuguese forward is expected to depart before the transfer window closes, making his inclusion in the squad unlikely for this fixture. However, the experienced Antoine Griezmann is anticipated to start, bringing his creativity and goalscoring ability to the front line.
In midfield, Koke, Marcos Llorente, and Rodrigo De Paul are all expected to be in the starting XI, providing the engine room for Diego Simeone’s side as they look to control the game and secure a strong start to their La Liga campaign.
Atletico Madrid are expected to line up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Jan Oblak in goal, providing his usual commanding presence between the posts. The backline will feature Nahuel Molina at right-back, Robin Le Normand and Jose Maria Gimenez forming a solid central defensive partnership, and Javi Galán occupying the left-back position
In midfield, Rodrigo De Paul will operate on the right side, Koke will anchor the midfield as the central playmaker, and Marcos Llorente will play on the left side, bringing his energy and versatility to the heart of the team. The front three will consist of Antoine Griezmann on the right wing, Alexander Sorloth playing through the middle as the central striker, and Julian Alvarez on the left wing.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Gimenez, Galan; De Paul, Koke, Llorente; Griezmann, Sorloth, Alvarez
Key Stats
- Atletico Madrid have won their last two La Liga games against Villarreal and could make it three consecutive victories against the Yellow Submarine in the competition for only the second time in history, having previously achieved this between 2011 and 2012.
- After three consecutive wins between 2015 and 2018, Villarreal have failed to win any of their last six home games in La Liga against Atletico Madrid (D4 L2), conceding exactly two goals in each of the last four matches.
- Villarreal have won four of their last six home games in La Liga (D1 L1), which is one more win than they managed in their previous 14 home games in the competition (W3 D5 L6).
- Atletico Madrid have gone 14 consecutive seasons without a defeat on the first matchday (W8 D6), with their last such loss occurring in 2009 against Málaga (0-3). They have won their opening game in each of the last five La Liga campaigns.
- Villarreal have only won their La Liga season opener in one of their last nine campaigns (D5 L3), which was a 3-0 victory at Valladolid in August 2022.
Player to Watch
Julian Alvarez
Julian Alvarez is set to be the player to watch in this game as he makes his highly anticipated La Liga debut for Atletico Madrid. The Argentine forward arrives with a burgeoning reputation, having been a key figure at Manchester City before making the switch to Spain. Alvarez’s versatility, combined with his sharp finishing, makes him a significant threat in the final third, and he is expected to play a pivotal role in Diego Simeone’s attack.
Alvarez’s ability to play across the frontline gives Simeone valuable tactical flexibility, allowing the team to adapt seamlessly to different phases of play. His movement off the ball, combined with his knack for finding space in the box, will be crucial as Atletico look to break down Villarreal’s defence. Given his history of rising to the occasion in big games, Alvarez is likely to have an immediate impact, especially with the support of experienced players like Antoine Griezmann and Alexander Sorloth alongside him.
Moreover, Alvarez is known for his relentless work ethic and pressing ability, qualities that align perfectly with Simeone’s philosophy of high-intensity, aggressive football. His contribution will not only be measured in goals but also in his ability to disrupt Villarreal’s buildup play and create opportunities for his teammates.
Prediction
Villarreal 0-1 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid’s recent record against Villarreal has been impressive, and given the quality within their squad, a similar outcome seems likely in this opening match of the new campaign.
With Alexander Sorloth, who was Villarreal’s top scorer last season, now lining up for Atletico, there’s an added layer of intrigue. It would not be surprising to see Sorloth find the back of the net against his former club, adding to the narrative of this tightly contested fixture.
