Football
Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal Preview: Odds, Tips and Predictions
Date: Jan 25, 2025 Kick Off Time: 10:15 AM ET Venue: Riyadh Air Metropolitano Atlético Madrid will be battling it out with Villarreal CF in a La Liga fixture set for Saturday, January 25, 2025 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano in Madrid. SportsBoom previews this match, to provide La Liga betting fans with well-informed odds that guarantee the best value. For a detailed, in-depth analysis of the match, be sure to check our preview and place your bets at our top-rated online La Liga sportsbooks.
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Antoine Griezmann controls the ball under pressure from Alex Baena//Getty Images
Atlético Madrid vs Villarreal Preview
Both teams are contesting to raise their positions a notch higher, with Atlético looking to bounce back to winning, after a disappointing loss to Leganes that saw them drop valuable points against their title rivals, Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Villarreal, on the other hand, made an outright 1-0 loss in their last away match against Real Sociedad, although they made a redeeming move by thrashing Mallorca 4-0 in their most recent, home match. Villarreal’s strive to sit in a better position, from the current fifth spot, on the standings is undeniable and will be a probable driving force in this fixture.
In their last three encounters with Villarreal, Atlético has emerged unbeaten, registering two wins and a draw. The last win saw Atlético beat Villarreal 1-2 in an away match, during the 2023/2024 season but earlier this season, they clashed on August 19, 2024, and left it at a draw.
This match guarantees a tight battle, with Atlético fighting to reinstate their dominance and Villarreal seeking to reinforce an upset if not a win.
Pre-Game Odds and Win Probability: Atlético Madrid Clear Favourites
Atlético Madrid: 16/25 (1.64) – 61%
Draw: 82/25 (4.28) – 23.4%
Villarreal: 417/100 (5.17) – 19.3%
*Odds courtesy of Sportsbet.io, subject to change
Head-to-Head Record
Last Five Meetings (La Liga)
19/08/2024: Villarreal 2-2 Atlético Madrid
01/04/2024: Villarreal 1-2 Atlético Madrid
12/11/2023: Atlético Madrid 3-1 Villarreal
04/06/2023: Villarreal 2-2 Atlético Madrid
21/08/2022: Atlético Madrid 0-2 Villarreal
Atlético Madrid Current Form – LWWWW
Atlético Madrid has been on an impressive winning streak in La Liga fixtures, which has remained seamlessly consistent since November 3, 2024. The breaking point of this persistent trend was the 1-0 loss that emerged in an away game against CD Leganes on January 18, 2025.
In all competitions, Atlético had secured 15 consecutive victories before the shocking loss to Leganes, which led Atlético to descend to the second position on the La Liga standings and paved the way for Real Madrid to assume the first position after a 4-1 defeat over Las Palmas.
Los Rojiblancos are seeking to resume their winning ways after the upsetting loss. Since the title-winning campaign in 2020/2021, the La Liga crown has remained a two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona.
However, this season has proven otherwise, with Diego Simeone’s men breaking sweat to prevent further loss of the La Liga lead to Barcelona, which is trailing 5 points behind.
Villarreal CF v Atletico de Madrid - La Liga EA Sports//Getty Images
Key Players to Watch
- Antoine Griezmann: To maintain their impressive winning streak in La Liga, Atletico Madrid cannot dispense Griezmann’s pivotal and influential play-making ability and goal-scoring prowess. This season, he has scored seven goals and made four assists, not only making him a heartbeat element of his team but also a player to watch in Atlético La Liga fixtures, given the tussle between the top three on the standings.
- Julian Alvarez: Since joining Atlético Madrid, Julián Álvarez has morphed into a dynamic and aggressive forward whose versatility and goal-scoring prowess continue to manifest in fixtures. The Argentine has scored decisive goals for his team in tightly contested La Liga matches. His partnership with Antoine Griezmann has elevated Atletico’s attack, leading to one win after another.
- Pablo Barrios: Barrios has featured as a significant player in Simeone’s squad, given his unique ability to balance attacking creativity and defensive duties. In Atletico’s 2-0 win against Las Palmas on November 3, 2024, Barrios demonstrated midfield expertise that was instrumental in earning a goal for Atletico.
Atlético Madrid Team News
Both Javi Galán and Clément Lenglet are suspended from the upcoming La Liga match against Villarreal owing to accumulated yellow cards. Alexander Sørloth has also been sidelined due to a muscle injury that keeps him off upcoming matches.
Villarreal Current Form – WLWDL
Villarreal has inconsistently been oscillating between wins, losses and draws. In the last five La Liga matches, the team has sparingly secured two wins that are bordered by two wins and a draw. Current statistics show that out of the 20 La Liga games that Villarreal have played so far, they have secured 9 wins, 5 losses, and 6 draws, and are fifth-placed.
The latest 4-0 thrashing against Mallorca was a comeback from a 1-0 loss to Real Sociedad, demonstrating Villarreal’s resilience in high-pressure games. In recent matches, the team has demonstrated a strong ability to score a number of goals, which has driven their recent victories.
On the downside, Villarreal tends to concede goals when battling it out with teams whose counterattacks are solid and high-paced. In such fixtures, their defence is thrown into a trance of inconsistency. Also, over-reliance on Álex Baena and Ayoze Pérez jeopardizes the team’s performance in cases where these players are neutralized.
Key Players to Watch
- Ayoze Pérez: He is Villarreal’s top scorer, having averaged 8 goals so far this season. He is well-equipped in attacks and his ability to manipulate defensive loopholes and play between the lines is impeccable. Ayoze is a constant threat in Villarreal.
- Álex Baena: Baena is dominantly skilled in identifying existing gaps in their opponent’s defence. He has mastered the art of threading through passes to attackers and he does not get apprehensive in the face of pressing opponents. Consequently, he performs exceptionally in high-pressure matches, given his bravery in recovering possessions, even against more aggressive opponents.
- Thierno Barry: Thierno Barry is an athletic player whose technical ability and versatility have made a pivotal impact in Villarreal. He has demonstrated an evident ability to score much-needed goals and assists. This season, he has scored seven goals, making him one of the most significant contributors to Villarreal’s offensive front.
Villarreal Team News
Alfonso Pedraza, Diego Conde and Ilias Akomachare are sidelined due to varying injuries. Alfonso and Conde are anticipated to return in early February and mid-February, respectively, while Ilias’s situation remains unannounced.
Predicted Line-Ups
Atlético Madrid: 4-4-2
J. Oblak; N. Molina, Le Normand, J. Gimenez, Mario Hermoso; M. Llorente, R. De Paul, P. Barrios Rivas, G. Simeone; J. Alvarez, A. Griezmann.
Villarreal: 4-4-2
L. Reis Junior; Kiko, J. Foyth, L. Costa, S. Cardona; Yéremi Pino, P. Gueye, D. Parejo, Álex Baena; T. Barry, G. Moreno.
Suggested Bets
Our suggested bets can be paired with your choices on the best online sports betting sites for a seamless gambling experience.
Atlético Madrid to Win: The eight-game winning streak maintained by Atlético is expected to resume in this game and with this being a home game, the dominance projected by the hosts in recent La Liga matches will be reinstated. (71/100 with BetandYou) (18/25 with Pinnacle)
Both Teams to Score (Yes): Both Atlético Madrid and Villareal have strong attacking capabilities, hence, although the former may have an upper hand in this, the latter will most likely seek an opportunity to score a goal, especially with Baena’s presence. (31/50 with Sportsbet.io) (17/25 with Pinnacle).
Over 2.5 Total Goals: With the most recent loss to Leganes, Atlético will be guarding against goals. Therefore, Villarreal will most likely fight harder to penetrate through the defence. Nonetheless, there is a high chance for this game to have at least three goals, given both teams' strong attack and ability to score goals. (61/100 with Stake) (13/20 with BetandYou)
Value Bets
Atlético Madrid to Score Over 1.5 Goals: Atlético Madrid has a powerful attacking form. This aspect, conjoined with Villarreal’s defensive gaps, Atletico will most likely score at least two goals.
Antoine Griezmann – Anytime Goalscorer: Griezmann has maintained an excellent scoring form that is empowered by well-structured clinical finishing, hence is likely to net a goal for Atletico.
Asian Handicap – Villarreal +1: Although Atlético will most likely carry the day in this match, Villarreal is less likely to lose by a large margin. This bet is favourable in case Villarreal secures a draw or loses by a narrow margin.
Prediction: Atlético Madrid to Win and Both Teams to Score
A combination of Atlético Madrid’s attacking power and Villarreal’s defensive vulnerabilities gives the former a head start and a better opportunity to win. However, Villarreal’s offensive threats render the expectation to have both teams score, reasonable.
Ian Mugo Wanyeki is based in Nairobi, Kenya. He is a sports enthusiast with vast knowledge of different sport disciplines. Ian is a graduate with a Bachelor’s of Science degree from Kenyatta University. He is a Kenyan journalist who’s worked as a sports analyst at Covenant Television Network, as a sports reporter at NTV and as a Sports Correspondent/contributor at Quartz Africa.
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