Villarreal will host Atletico Madrid on August 19, 2024, at the Estadio de la Ceramica in their opening match of the LaLiga season.
Both teams will be eager to kick off the season strong, with Atletico hoping to improve further on their fourth place finish last season and Villarreal aiming for a Europa League place after narrowly missing out in 23/24.
Match Preview
Villarreal
Villarreal Recent Form
Villarreal's form towards the end of the last season was a mixed bag with two wins, two draws, and a loss in their final five matches. They ended the season ninth in LaLiga, just missing out on Europe.
Villarreal Injury News
No major injury updates have been reported ahead of the match, allowing Villarreal to likely field their strongest lineup for the opening game of their season.
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid Recent Form
Atletico Madrid ended the 23/24 season on a strong note, winning four of their last five matches to finish just five points behind Girona.
The side scored 70 goals and conceding just 43, so they will be hoping to get more in the back of the net this season trailing 15 goals behind Girona in 23/24.
Atletico Madrid Injury News
Similar to Villarreal, Atletico Madrid does not have significant injury concerns heading into this match, with key players like Antoine Griezmann expected to be fit to start the season strong.
Players To Watch
Villarreal Player To Watch
Gerard Moreno remains Villarreal’s talisman, having scored 10 goals last season. His ability to create chances and finish them will be crucial for the team.
Atletico Madrid Player To Watch
Antoine Griezmann was pivotal for Atletico Madrid last season with 16 goals. His influence in both scoring and creating chances makes him the player to watch for Atletico this season, as his form could determine if they can push on from their fourth place finish in 23/24.
Prediction
Given Atletico Madrid's solid defence and Villarreal’s attacking strengths, I think that this match could be closely contested.
