Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal: Perfect Start on the Line

The Wanda Metropolitano expects noise, control and another statement. Atlético Madrid welcome Villarreal on Sunday with Diego Simeone’s team already moving with the swagger of a side that knows exactly what it wants from this La Liga season.

They arrive in outstanding domestic form. One game, one win, one clean sheet – and the sense that there is far more to come.

Atlético riding early momentum

Atlético opened their campaign with a calm, authoritative 2-0 victory over Málaga CF in Madrid. The scoreline was routine; the manner of it was ominous for the rest of the league.

Simeone’s bench won that game. Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena stepped off it, changed the tempo and supplied the goals. The performance underlined the depth and balance of this squad, and it reinforced a familiar theme: at the Wanda Metropolitano, Atlético rarely give much away.

The clean sheet continued the defensive standards that powered last season’s strong finish. Organised, compact, aggressive in the right moments – Los Colchoneros look ready to turn home fixtures into a grind for anyone who visits.

Team news: Álvarez back, Sørloth out

Simeone’s preparations for Villarreal come with a mix of good and bad news.

The headline is clear: Julián Álvarez is back. After an extended post-tournament break, the star forward has returned to full training and is fit to lead the line. His movement, pressing and finishing give Atlético a sharper edge in the final third.

But there is a significant absentee. Main striker Alexander Sørloth remains sidelined with an ongoing muscle problem, removing a powerful reference point up front. Long-term injuries continue to rule out Thomas Lemar, while new defensive signing Cristian Romero is also unavailable due to physical issues, delaying his integration into Simeone’s back line.

Even so, Atlético’s structure looks settled. Simeone has leaned towards a flexible 1-4-1-4-1 shape, with Koke as the deep-lying controller in midfield. From there, everything else snaps into place.

Selection battles on the flanks

If the system is clear, the personnel on the wings are anything but.

Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena forced the issue against Málaga CF. Both came off the bench, both scored, both injected urgency and invention. Their impact has put serious pressure on Carlos Martín and Arnau Ortiz, who started that opener but now face a direct challenge for their places.

Simeone thrives on internal competition. This week’s training will have been intense, and the flanks are where the real selection drama lies. Does he reward form and impact from the bench, or back the original starters and use Lee and Baena again as game-changers?

What is not in doubt is the spine. Koke’s positioning allows the rest of the midfield to break lines, while the back four in front of Jan Oblak gives Atlético their familiar defensive steel.

Predicted Atlético XI

Barring late surprises, Atlético are expected to line up with a strong, attacking side:

Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Le Normand, Grimaldo; Barrios, Koke; Simeone, Kang-in, Baena; Lookman.

It is a team built to press, to counter, and to suffocate Villarreal when they try to play out.

Kick-off and TV details

The game at the Wanda Metropolitano kicks off at 4pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August.

In the UK, Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal will be shown live on Premier Sports 1.

Atlético have the form, the crowd and their main creator back in Julián Álvarez. Now the question is simple: can they turn a perfect start into a sustained early charge in La Liga?