Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal | Football Previews & Free Betting Tips | 13th September 2025

Atlético Madrid welcome Villarreal to the Cívitas Metropolitano on 13 September 2025 for an early barometer of where both sides are headed this season. Atlético’s start has been sticky, whereas Villarreal have come out flying, scoring for fun and looking tidy at the back. Expect a proper noise in the stands and a decent away following in yellow.

On the pitch, this sets up as 4-2-3-1 versus 4-3-3. Atlético will look to compress the middle third, work the ball into advanced wide areas and spring runs off a focal point, with smart rotation between the number ten and the forwards. Villarreal are happier to keep it moving through midfield, get full-backs high and flood the box with late runners. The contrast is tasty: Atlético’s structure and set-piece threat against Villarreal’s tempo and variety in the final third.

Atlético Madrid
No major fresh suspensions flagged from recent league action. Selection revolves around leaders and reliable performers. Antoine Griezmann will knit attacks and find pockets between the lines, while Nahuel Molina offers an outlet down the right and delivery from advanced areas. At centre-back, expect a physically robust pairing to attack first balls and protect the area on cut-backs.

Villarreal
No new bans reported. Gerard Moreno remains the penalty-box reference and link, with Dani Parejo guiding tempo and restarts. Width and one-v-ones from the flanks are the obvious route to goal, with runners arriving from midfield to attack the second phase.

Atlético Madrid (last 10 competitive): 3–4–3
Goals: 13 scored, 13 conceded (1.3 for / 1.3 against per match). One clean sheet across those 10 suggests they’ve been in a lot of tight, busy matches. They’re making chances but have been pegged back late more than they’d like, with most goals arriving after the interval.

Villarreal (last 10 competitive): 5–3–2
Goals: 18 scored, 6 conceded (1.8 for / 0.6 against per match). Two hefty wins to start this league campaign hint at sharp finishing and good control. Their defensive distances look neat, and they’ve protected their box much better across this run.

Trend-wise, Atlético’s matches lean towards measured control that can open up in the second half; Villarreal are carrying more punch in transition and from quick combinations, with a steady supply from wide areas and set-plays.

Atlético at home (recent trend): Typically strong territorially with high possession and pressure, but they’ve conceded in most of their recent outings. The Metropolitano factor still nudges them on set-plays and late surges, yet clean sheets have been scarce across the broader 10-game picture.

Villarreal away (recent trend): The early signs this term are positive—better control of counter-attacks and a knack for striking first. Their away games trend to measured chance creation rather than chaos, though when they do open up, the front line carries enough bite to cash in quickly.

Atlético Madrid — Antoine Griezmann: Finds space where others don’t. If Atleti get runners beyond him and quality deliveries from the right, he’ll knit moves together and decide moments around the box.

Villarreal — Gerard Moreno: Movement, touch and finishing. If Villarreal progress play through midfield cleanly, Moreno’s timing off the shoulder and in cut-back zones is the headline threat.

Atlético Madrid 1–1 Villarreal — Atlético will raise the intensity at home and tighten some of the recent soft edges, but Villarreal’s early-season flow and balance look real. A draw feels the percentage play, with either side capable of nicking it from a set-piece or a quick wide combination.

Main pick: Both Teams To Score – Yes
Villarreal arrive in good nick up top, while Atlético usually create enough at home. The blend of Atleti’s second-half bias and Villarreal’s cutting edge points to both finding the net.

Value angle: Draw
The matchup reads tight on underlying numbers (Atlético’s 1.27 expected goals for vs Villarreal’s 1.90 with sturdy concessions), and the stylistic clash often lands in stalemate territory when the hosts don’t land the first punch.