Two sides that finished in La Liga's top four last season, Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, are set to meet on matchday two of the 2026-27 campaign. Atletico, 5-1 losers in the final round last season, will host this encounter looking for quick revenge on home turf.Download Our MozzartSport App For More NewsDiego Simeone’s side started the season on a high, beating newly promoted Malaga 2-0. They have back-to-back home matches to start the season and a chance to make it three straight home wins. For a side that finished 25 points adrift of the league winners last term, Atleti will be targeting a much stronger campaign, and a victory here is crucial.##NAJAVA_MECA_9907507##Though Villarreal finished ahead of Atletico in third place last season, they had their shaky moments. Their start to this season suggests those defensive vulnerabilities are still present, as the Yellow Submarine had to rally from two goals behind to draw 2-2 with newly promoted Racing Santander.That result means Villarreal have managed just one win in their last five league matches, which was their 5-1 thrashing of Atletico in May. Furthermore, they haven’t won away to Atletico Madrid in their last three visits, losing twice, which does not bode well as they search for their first win of the campaign.Kick-off: 6:00 PM (Kenyan Time), Sunday 23 AugustVenue: Riyadh Air Metropolitano, MadridGroup: La Liga (Matchday 2)Current standings: Atletico Madrid 3rd (3 pts), Villarreal 6th (1 pt)FIFA drops hammer on Argentina: 21-match ban, hefty fines, and stadium closureQualification implications: A win for Atletico Madrid consolidates their perfect start to the La Liga campaign, while Villarreal aim to climb into the top four positions.Form GuideAtletico Madrid ✅ Win vs Malaga➖ Draw vs Marseille❌ Loss vs Manchester City❌ Loss vs Manchester United✅ Win vs GetafeVillarreal ➖ Draw vs Racing Santander✅ Win vs Galatasaray✅ Win vs Levante❌ Loss vs Lens✅ Win vs ComoHead-to-Head (Last Five Meetings)Villarreal 5-1 Atletico Madrid (2026 La Liga)Atletico Madrid 2-0 Villarreal (2025 La Liga)Atletico Madrid 1-1 Villarreal (2025 La Liga)Villarreal 2-2 Atletico Madrid (2024 La Liga)Villarreal 1-2 Atletico Madrid (2024 La Liga)##NAJAVA_MECA_9907917##Team NewsAtletico Madrid❌ Alexander Sorloth – Muscular injury (out).🟡 Julian Alvarez – Transfer speculation, unlikely to start.🟢 Thomas Lemar & Cristian Romero – Expected to be available in squad.Villarreal❌ Alassane Diatta – Suspended.🟢 Gerard Moreno, Nicolas Pepe & Georges Mikautadze – Available and expected to feature.Diomande's fascination with Mourinho: "I'm ready to die for him"Player to Watch: Alex Baena (Atletico Madrid)Alex Baena has seamlessly integrated into Diego Simeone's setup following his summer arrival, making an immediate impact on matchday one. The creative midfielder capped off an impressive display against Malaga by scoring late to seal the 2-0 victory, demonstrating his sharp positioning and composure in front of goal.Facing his former club adds extra narrative and motivation for Baena in this fixture. His vision, sharp transitional passing, and late runs into the penalty box make him Atletico’s primary creative engine, capable of breaking down Villarreal's unstable backline.🟢 Safe Bet (Low Risk)Atletico Madrid Win or Draw (Double Chance)🟡 Smart Bet (Medium Risk)Both Teams to Score – Yes🔴 Long Shot (High Risk)Atletico Madrid to Win 2-1Disclaimer: Whilst we do our utmost to offer good advice and information, we cannot be held responsible for any loss that may be incurred as a result of gambling.
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