Diego Simeone is in search of aid from Atletico Madrid’s poor begin to the season and is hoping they’ll earn their first victory in opposition to Villarreal on Saturday.
It’s the worst begin Atletico have ever made to a league marketing campaign beneath Simeone, having drawn with Elche and Alaves since an opening-day loss to Espanyol.
It means Atletico sit seventeenth within the desk following the worldwide break, having did not construct on what appeared to be a promising switch window.
The stress has been piling on the Argentine, particularly with the beginning of their Champions League marketing campaign in opposition to Premier League champions Liverpool approaching subsequent week.
“Profitable can be a aid, that’s the fact, the best way I see it,” Simeone advised a press convention. “I might really feel relieved; the duty is big.
“Over the past 14 years, we’ve constructed an infinite legacy, and we should keep it. I’m ready the place I’m probably the most carefully watched individual, and I’ve to simply accept that.”
In the beginning of the season, Atletico got an 11.7% probability of lifting the LaLiga title by the Opta supercomputer as they give the impression of being to finish a four-year drought, however these hopes have slimmed down to simply 2.3% heading into MD4.
And the duty doesn’t get any simpler for them; Villarreal are unbeaten to this point this season, with two wins and a draw beneath their belts, and so they sit third within the desk, above Barcelona.
Villarreal at present have the very best shot conversion price within the Spanish top-flight (15.4%), with Atletico’s the fifth-lowest at this stage (7%).
Simeone is beneath no phantasm in regards to the powerful activity forward, however believes his staff have what it takes to trigger Villarreal issues.
“We’ve tried to establish the errors that prevented us from scoring extra factors,” he added. “And we’ve tried to accentuate our work in that space.
“That was an important half. Gamers arrived with their nationwide groups drained, in ache… We hope they are often in the most effective form for the match.
“They [Villarreal] play a really outlined type, very tight, permitting them to counterattack with velocity down the wings. With our weapons and instruments, we wish to harm our opponents.”
Baaaack pic.twitter.com/No5zAcNRHD
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) September 11, 2025
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Atletico Madrid – Antoine Griezmann
Antoine Griezmann, who’s on his longest aim drought in his LaLiga profession (19 video games), has solely had two pictures on aim in his first three league video games this season.
He might be hoping to finish that run on Saturday, although, as he has been concerned in seven targets in his final seven video games in opposition to Villarreal within the top-flight (three targets and 4 assists).
Villarreal – Gerard Moreno
Gerard Moreno has scored three targets in eight visits to the Metropolitano in LaLiga. No away participant has scored extra targets at Atletico’s new residence floor within the competitors (Borja Mayoral, Enes Unal and Leo Baptistao even have three).
Nevertheless, he has solely performed one recreation this season and is but to attain from his 4 pictures, which had been value 0.3 anticipated targets (xG).
MATCH PREDICTION: ATLETICO MADRID WIN
Atletico have endured a torrid begin to the season, failing to win their first three matches (D2 L1), their worst begin after their first three video games since 2009-10, beneath Abel Resino (did not win first 5 D3 L2).
Nevertheless, Atletico haven’t misplaced any of their final 5 matches in opposition to Villarreal in LaLiga (W2 D3), though they’ve drawn the final two. They’ve by no means had three consecutive attracts in opposition to the Yellow Submarine within the competitors earlier than, although.
Atletico have conceded a minimum of one aim in every of their final eight LaLiga matches in opposition to Villarreal (13 targets in whole), and in the event that they concede a aim, they’ll endure their worst run with out conserving a clear sheet in opposition to Villarreal within the competitors (9 matches).
Villarreal have picked up factors in eight of their final 11 away video games in opposition to Atletico in LaLiga (W3 D5 L3).
They’re additionally on a nine-match unbeaten streak in LaLiga (W8 D1), although they haven’t gone 10 or extra with out defeat within the competitors since December 2020 beneath Unai Emery (W5 D7).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Atletico Madrid – 51.2%
Draw – 24.3%
Villarreal – 24.4%