Villarreal-Atlético Madrid: LaLiga 2022 preview, match info

Atlético Madrid will go to Villarreal on Sunday night time in an important recreation for each side.

Villarreal (7-7-5, 28 factors) have gained 4 consecutive video games in LaLiga after a gradual begin to the season had coach Unai Emery underneath stress. Talisman Gerard Moreno has returned from harm, however Emery — who has by no means defeated Diego Simeone in a head-to-head assembly — might be shorthanded getting into this match anyway. Samu Chukwueze and Boulaye Dia are off representing their international locations on the African Cup of Nations, whereas Arnaut Danjuma and Yeremy Pino are uncertain to play.

Picture by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Photographs

This doesn’t imply Simeone will take Villarreal any much less significantly.

“Villarreal are a really aggressive staff that performs properly, assaults properly,” Simeone stated Saturday. “They’re organized and power errors every recreation, making you push ahead in order that they generate areas. I actually like how they play.”

Atlético (9-5-5, 32 factors) have began 2022 with back-to-back wins, however enter this recreation with a number of absences. Along with the injured Antoine Griezmann, Simeone won’t be able to rely on the suspended duo of José Giménez and Luis Suárez. Stefan Savić was regarded as on the verge of returning, however he’ll miss his seventh consecutive recreation.

Picture by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Photographs

“It worries and issues me,” Cholo stated concerning the health issues in his staff. “We’ll attempt to discover options.”

Atleti additionally stay quick at right-back, because the membership has not but discovered a alternative for Kieran Trippier. Marcos Llorente is prone to obtain one other begin on the place on Sunday.

“The truth of Trippier’s departure is that it opens the potential of having Marcos as a winger or a wing-back, as he’s within the nationwide staff with Luis Enrique,” Simeone stated. “Clearly a participant can not play in two locations, wing-back and midfielder, on the identical time. We all the time attempt to decide on what greatest balances the staff and makes us higher.”

This preview might be up to date with the official squad listing.

Date Jan. 9, 2022

Location La Cerámica, Vila-real, València

Kickoff time 9:00 p.m. CET, 8:00 p.m. GMT, 3:00 p.m. EST, 12:00 p.m. PST

SB Nation opposition website Villarreal USA

Available TV/streaming ESPN+ (United States), Movistar LaLiga 1 (Spain), Premier Sports activities 1 (United Kingdom)