La Liga: Los Rojiblancos to Sink the Yellow Submarine

Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal

Defending La Liga champions and pace-setters Atletico Madrid are back at home on Sunday when they welcome Villarreal to the Wanda Metropolitano for Round Three of the new season.

Los Rojiblancos are one of only two sides alongside Sevilla to win both their opening games and Diego Simeone’s team will be confident of making it three from three when the Yellow Submarine surfaces in Madrid.

Unai Emery’s Villarreal have played out two goalless draws so far and will have to up their game to live with their hosts. But in Gerard Moreno, they have a striker of real quality.

It all points to a fascinating clash with Atleti expected to win, but Villarreal will be one of the better sides they meet this year.

Talking Points

Correa is the man for Atleti

Atletico beat Elche 1-0 to make it two wins from two and Simeone will be pleased with the clean sheet. But the form of one of his wide men will also have put a smile on the boss’s face.

Argentine winger Angel Correa has scored all three of Atleti’s goals, bagging the winner against Elche and a brace in the 2-1 victory over Celta Vigo in their season opener.

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The 26-year-old is playing with real confidence and as well as scoring his own goals, he will be a good source of supply for Luis Suarez who made an appearance against Elche as he returns to full fitness.

Correa’s countryman Rodrigo De Paul signed for Atleti over the summer and he’s settling nicely into a top quality midfield alongside Koke and Saul Niguez. And with the versatile Marcos Llorente sitting behind the front man, Los Rojiblancos have plenty of creative options.

But they are still missing the goal-scoring guile of young striker Joao Felix who has been dogged by injury since he signed from Benfica in 2019. He’s been out since January with an ankle injury and is nearing a return, but Sunday will be too early.

When all their players are fit, Atleti will be in good shape to defend their title at odds of 3.30. Real Madrid are the current favourites at 2.40 while the post-Messi Barcelona are third favourites at 3.30, and Sevilla are backed to join the title race again.

The big four all made fast starts by winning on the opening weekend, and Sevilla matched Atleti again on Matchday Two. But Barca drew 1-1 away to Athletic Bilbao while Los Blancos missed a chance, drawing 3-3 away to Levante.

Villarreal looking for some bite up front

While Atleti have started quite impressively, Villarreal’s early La Liga 2021 results have been less satisfying as they’ve played out two goalless stalemates against Granada and Espanyol.

Coach Emery has done a great job to make the team solid at the back while posing a serious threat out front, and it served him well last season as the Yellow Submarine won the Europa League.

And according to the latest La Liga 2021 betting odds, Emery’s side is tipped to finish sixth this term – a place above their 2021 place and they will be competitive at home and in Europe again.

In a preseason showcase match, the Yellow Submarine held European champions Chelsea to a 1-1 draw in the Super Cup before losing on penalties. Star striker Gerard was on target and much of Villlarreal’s hopes rest on the 29-year-old’s shoulders.

He proved himself to be one of the best all round strikers in Europe last season, netting 23 times in the La Liga campaign alongside Karim Benzema and with only Lionel Messi ahead.

La Liga: Gerard Moreno wins Europa League Player of the Season — Villarreal’s Gerard Moreno celebrates scoring their first goal against Chelsea

It will only be a matter of time before he opens his account this season and what better time to do it than against the reigning champions?

Emery has bolstered his attack with the signing of Senegalese striker Boulaye Dia from Ligue 1 side Reims and the 24-year-old could provide a good foil for Gerard.

Meanwhile at the back, Villarreal are boosted by the return of Argentine centre-back Juan Foyth, who was sent off in the opener against Granada and is back from suspension.

History

The head-to-heads have been fiercely contested and Alteti are trailing by a single win with 14 victories to the Yellow Submarine’s 15, and there have been 11 draws in all competitions over the last 40 meetings.

But Los Rojiblancos have been clawing their way back, unbeaten in six games with three wins and three draws, and they haven’t lost at home to Villarreal since 2017.

Last season, the clash at the Wanda Metropolitano ended in a 0-0 draw while Atleti won 2-0 in the away fixture thanks to an own goal by Pedraza and a Felix strike.

And recent form, straddling two seasons and preseason, is definitely in the hosts’ favour while Villarreal haven’t won in nine games and Atleti have won their last seven at home.