Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal: Simeone Aims for Perfect Start

The Wanda Metropolitano expects noise, control and three more points on Sunday as Atlético Madrid welcome Villarreal for their second La Liga clash of the campaign.

Diego Simeone’s team come into the game purring. They opened the season with a comfortable 2-0 home win over Málaga CF, a performance that looked routine on the scoreboard but ruthless in its detail. Atlético managed the game, tightened the screw, and then let the bench finish the job.

Both goals came from substitutes. Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena stepped off the sideline and straight into the spotlight, each finding the net to underline the depth and sharpness in this squad. It was the kind of night that feeds belief inside a dressing room: whoever plays, delivers.

The clean sheet mattered too. Atlético finished last season strong at home, and that defensive steel has carried over. Los Colchoneros look drilled, aggressive without the ball and intent on making the Metropolitano a place where opponents barely breathe, let alone score.

Team news: Álvarez back, Sørloth out

Simeone’s preparation for Villarreal comes with a familiar mix of problems and positives.

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. For a side already in rhythm, adding Álvarez’s movement, pressing and finishing power gives Atlético a different edge in the final third.

The bad news comes in the shape of Alexander Sørloth. The main striker remains sidelined with a muscle issue and will not feature. Long-term absentee Thomas Lemar is still out, and new defensive signing Cristian Romero is also unavailable due to ongoing physical problems, trimming Simeone’s options at the back.

Even so, the structure is clear. Simeone is leaning into a flexible 1-4-1-4-1 system, with Koke anchoring deep in midfield, dictating tempo and covering space. Around him, the competition is fierce.

The flanks are where the real selection headache lies. Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena did everything a manager could ask in the opener: came on, changed the game, scored. Both are now pressing hard to break into the starting XI at the expense of Carlos Martín and Arnau Ortiz. Form says one thing. Loyalty and balance might say another. Simeone has a call to make.

Predicted Atlético Madrid XI

Jan Oblak is expected to start in goal, protected by a back four of Marcos Llorente, David Hancko, Robin Le Normand and Álex Grimaldo.

In front of them, Pablo Barrios and Koke should form the base, with Simeone’s son, Giuliano Simeone, operating further forward alongside Lee Kang-in and Álex Baena in the attacking band behind the striker. Ademola Lookman is tipped to start as the central forward, supported by Álvarez’s return to fitness giving extra firepower and flexibility in attack.

Possible Atlético Madrid starting XI: Oblak; Llorente, Hancko, Le Normand, Grimaldo; Barrios, Koke; Simeone, Kang-in, Baena; Lookman.

Kick-off and TV details

The game kicks off at 4pm BST on Sunday, 23rd August at the Wanda Metropolitano.

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

Perfect start, home crowd, key man back, places on the line. Atlético look ready. Now it’s about turning that noise into another statement in La Liga.