A Tale of Two Starts at the Metropolitano
Atlético Madrid will host Villarreal at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Saturday, September 13, in a La Liga encounter that pits two teams with drastically different season openings against each other. While Villarreal arrives in the capital flying high in the top four, Diego Simeone’s Atlético are in the unfamiliar position of desperately seeking their first victory of the campaign.
The match, set to kick off at 8:00 PM BST, presents a crucial test for both sides. For Atlético, it’s a chance to silence early-season doubters, while Villarreal aims to solidify their status as early contenders. According to information from digitaltrendstoday.com, the visitors have made an excellent start, sitting third in the table with seven points from their first three matches, having scored eight goals and conceded just one.
Atlético’s Struggles and Injury Woes
It has been a nightmare start for Los Colchoneros, who find themselves languishing in 16th place with only two points. A 2-1 opening day defeat to Espanyol was followed by frustrating 1-1 draws against Elche and Alavés. Manager Diego Simeone has admitted there is “no justification” for the poor start and has acknowledged tactical missteps.
Compounding their on-field issues is a growing injury list, particularly in midfield. Key summer signing Álex Baena is sidelined until at least October after undergoing surgery for appendicitis. Another crucial midfielder, Thiago Almada, suffered a muscular injury while on international duty with Argentina and is also expected to miss the clash. With José María Giménez also unavailable, Simeone’s squad depth is being severely tested early in the season.
Villarreal’s Momentum Tempered by Absences
In stark contrast, Marcelino García Toral’s Villarreal have been impressive, securing dominant wins over Real Oviedo (2-0) and Girona (5-0) before a 1-1 draw with Celta Vigo. The Yellow Submarine have looked defensively solid and potent in attack, with winger Tajon Buchanan already netting three goals this season.
However, they are not without their own significant injury problems, especially in defense. The team is coping with long-term absences for Logan Costa, who suffered an ACL rupture, and Willy Kambwala, who is out with a hamstring tear. Furthermore, star striker Gerard Moreno remains unavailable due to a hamstring issue, though Ayoze Pérez is nearing a return and could feature from the bench.
Predicted Lineups and What to Expect
Given the injury concerns, both managers may be forced to adjust their starting XIs. Simeone could opt for a new attacking partnership, potentially starting Antoine Griezmann alongside Julián Álvarez for the first time this season to spark his offense.
Possible Starting XIs:
- Atlético Madrid (4-4-2): Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Lenglet, Hancko; Simeone, Cardoso, Barrios, Ruggeri; Sørloth, Álvarez
- Villarreal (4-4-2): Júnior; Mouriño, Foyth, Marín, Cardona; Buchanan, Comesaña, Gueye, Moleiro; Pépé, Mikautadze
Historically, this has been a tightly contested fixture, with eight of the last 13 meetings ending in a draw. With both clubs facing important Champions League fixtures next week—Atlético away to Liverpool and Villarreal visiting Tottenham Hotspur—squad rotation and tactical caution could play a significant role. The pressure is firmly on the home side to deliver a performance and, more importantly, a result to kickstart their season.
