Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal: Team News and Predicted Lineups

Diego Simeone goes into this one juggling good news and bad.

The headline is clear enough: Julián Álvarez is back. The star forward has rejoined full training after his extended post-tournament break and is ready to lead the line from the start. For a side that already opened the season with a controlled 2-0 win over Málaga CF, adding Álvarez’s movement and finishing gives Atlético a sharper edge in the final third.

But the boost is tempered by a major absentee. Alexander Sørloth, Simeone’s premier striking option through much of last season, remains completely ruled out with a stubborn muscle injury. There is no late fitness test, no “we’ll see in the morning” drama. He’s out.

The treatment room does not stop there. Long-term absentee Thomas Lemar is still unavailable, while defensive signing Cristian Romero also misses out with physical issues, denying Simeone another aggressive option at the back.

Tactically, Atlético are set up to look familiar but flexible. Simeone is leaning toward a 1-4-1-4-1 shape, Koke sitting deep as the pivot and metronome. Around him, the decisions get far more complicated.

Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena changed the mood of the opening game. Both came off the bench, both scored, and both made a loud case to start. Their impact has put real pressure on Carlos Martín and Arnau Ortiz, who began that Málaga match but now feel the heat of competition. Simeone has rarely shied away from rewarding form, and the wings are suddenly the most hotly contested area of his XI.

Villarreal: Near Full Strength and Full of Intent

Across the technical area, Íñigo Pérez arrives in Madrid with something Simeone would love right now: a near full-strength squad.

Villarreal have been handed a huge lift at the back. Juan Foyth, sidelined long term with an Achilles injury, is not only fit again but has already come through the first league match. His presence instantly stiffens a defence that has creaked too often in recent seasons.

Further up the pitch, there is more good news. Key forward Gerard Moreno and central midfielder Santi Comesaña both shrugged off minor knocks and are training without restrictions. Pérez has his main weapons available.

His plan is straightforward, his intent obvious: a classic 1-4-4-2, designed to soak up Atlético’s pressure and then spring forward on the counter. With the pace and directness in this squad, that approach suits them.

The real argument inside the Villarreal camp sits in the centre of midfield. The pivot alongside Pape Gueye remains undecided. Comesaña offers experience and structure, but Carlos Maciá has lit up recent training sessions and impressed the coaching staff. The youngster’s rise has created a genuine selection fight, the sort of dilemma managers welcome. Out wide, Nicolas Pépé and Alberto Moleiro bring threat, unpredictability, and the ability to turn a tight game with one run.

Form Guide

Atlético Madrid

Simeone’s side walk into this fixture in a confident stride. They opened their domestic campaign with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Málaga CF, a performance that underlined both their depth and their discipline.

The most striking detail? The goals came from the bench. Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena stepped on and immediately tilted the match, underlining how many options Simeone now has in attacking areas.

Atlético carried strong home form from the end of last season, and nothing in that first outing suggested it has faded. They looked compact, aggressive in the press, and intent on building a run of clean sheets in Madrid.

Villarreal

Villarreal arrive with a different kind of story. Their league campaign began with a chaotic but spirited 2-2 draw away at Racing Santander. They fell two goals behind, looked in real trouble, then fought back to take a point.

The comeback spoke well of their resilience and attacking variety under new boss Pérez. The flip side is harder to ignore: defensive vulnerabilities remain, and the back line still looks capable of being dragged into uncomfortable positions. That tension between threat and fragility will define their trip to the capital.

Predicted Lineups

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

Villarreal
Junior; Mourino, Foyth, Veiga, Romero; Comesana, Gueye; Pepe, Moreno, Moleiro; Mikautadze

How to Watch

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

A home side chasing back-to-back wins, an away team eager to prove their comeback in Santander was no fluke, and a stadium that rarely forgives hesitation. For Simeone and Pérez, this is more than an early-season fixture. It’s an early marker of where their seasons are really heading.