LaLiga title contenders Atletico Madrid are looking to get back to winning ways on Friday, when they visit Villarreal at Estadio de la Ceramica. Last season Atletico grabbed a 1-1 draw at Villarreal and then secured a 2-0 victory in the reverse fixture. Villarreal have won three of their last four home matches against Atletico Madrid, who have not won an away match at Estadio de la Ceramica since 2015.
Villarreal are going through a bit of a crisis at the moment, they have lost their last three league matches and have not won a game since October. They have won just five of their fifteen league matches so far this season and have already lost seven. Last season they finished outside the top ten for the first time after five years and it seems they will be in the bottom half of the table once again this season. Star midfielder Santiago Cazorla has a sprained ankle and will be a big miss for the home side, along with defender Alberto Moreno.
Atletico Madrid are still hoping to push for the title this season, even though they lost 1-0 at home against leaders Barcelona last week. That was the second league defeat of the season for Atletico, but their main worry is the immense number of draws that they have recorded so far. They have drawn seven of their fifteen league matches this season, four of them away from home. Last week's defeat relegated Atletico to fifth place, six points behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. Striker Diego Costa is out injured and will be out of contention until February, while Angel Correa is suspended.
Probable line-ups:
Villarreal: Asenjo - Mario, Albiol, Torres, Quintilla - Morlanes; Trigueros, Anguissa, Chukwueze, Moreno - Toko Ekambi
Atletico: Oblak - Trippier, Felipe, Hermoso, Lodi - Herrera, Thomas, Koke, Lemar - Morata, Felix
My prediction:
Both teams are in rather poor form ahead of this match, so I think we'll probably see another 1-1 draw.
Here are the odds for the match at NetBet:
Villarreal win - 3.40
Draw - 3.25
Atletico win - 2.20
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