Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal: Simeone Aims for Second Straight Win
Atlético Madrid return to the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday with the early-season wind at their backs and Villarreal in their sights, as Diego Simeone’s team chase a second straight La Liga win and another clean sheet in the capital.
Simeone’s men opened their campaign with a controlled 2-0 victory over Málaga CF, a performance that underlined both their organisation and their depth. The starters laid the platform, the bench finished the job. Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena stepped off the sidelines and straight onto the scoresheet, a reminder that this squad carries threats well beyond the first XI.
The mood around the Wanda feels familiar: compact, aggressive, and quietly confident. Atlético finished last season strongly at home, and that momentum has rolled straight into the new campaign. Another disciplined, suffocating display is the target.
Team news: Álvarez back, Sørloth out
Simeone’s selection board is a mix of relief and frustration.
The headline is clear. Julián Álvarez is back. After an extended post-tournament break, the star forward has returned to full training and is ready to lead the line. His movement and work rate suit Simeone’s demands perfectly, and his presence immediately sharpens Atlético’s attacking edge.
The flip side: Alexander Sørloth remains unavailable with a persistent muscle problem, ruling out a powerful alternative option up front. Long-term casualties Thomas Lemar and new defensive recruit Cristian Romero are also still sidelined with physical issues, trimming Simeone’s options in midfield and at the back.
Even so, the coach has enough tools to keep his tactical plan intact. He is leaning towards a flexible 1-4-1-4-1 setup, with Koke anchoring deep in midfield, dictating tempo and screening the defence. Around him, the pieces can shift and rotate, but the structure stays firm.
Selection battles on the flanks
If the system is clear, the wings are anything but.
Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena changed the Málaga game from the bench, both scoring and both injecting pace and invention between the lines. Those cameos have turned up the heat on Carlos Martín and Arnau Ortiz, who now face a serious fight to keep their starting spots.
Simeone has never shied away from rewarding impact. Training ground intensity and recent form usually decide tight calls, and right now Lee and Baena have made the loudest arguments. The flanks could be where this match tilts: energy, pressing, and end product will all be non-negotiable.
Behind them, Koke and Pablo Barrios offer balance and bite, while the back four of Marcos Llorente, Dávid Hancko, Robin Le Normand and Alejandro Grimaldo protects Jan Oblak, who will be eyeing another quiet afternoon.
Predicted Atlético Madrid XI
Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Le Normand, Grimaldo; Barrios, Koke; Simeone, Kang-in, Baena; Lookman.
Kick-off is set for 4pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August, with live coverage in the UK on Premier Sports 1.
Atlético have the form, the crowd, and their main forward back. Villarreal arrive knowing exactly what awaits them: 90 minutes in a stadium that demands intensity and punishes hesitation.
