Villarreal vs Atl. Madrid prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2024-03-31 19:00.
[p]Villarreal will have been forgiven for thinking that the international break came at the wrong time, as they have won their last four league games to stretch their unbeaten run in La Liga to nine matches (W5, D4), with that latter sequence accounting for half their points this campaign! As a result, Marcelinoâs men start this round eight points behind the top six, a gap which is still bridgeable, especially as the Yellow Submarine are no longer distracted by European football having exited the UEFA Europa League. [/p]
[p]Home form could be crucial for that late charge, and Villarreal are on a seven-game streak without defeat at Estadio de la Ceråmica (W4, D3), including three successive wins. And if recent H2Hs are anything to go by, the arrival of Atlético Madrid is unlikely to threaten that sequence, as the hosts have lost just one of their last eight home meetings (W3, D4).[/p]
[p]AtlĂ©tico lost 3-0 to Barcelona before the international break for their eighth league loss this season – the highest figure among the top seven sides after 29 matches. Consequently, they are out of the top four and could be looking at the gap widening if they donât halt a two-game losing run in La Liga, as manager Diego Simeone has to juggle planning for the upcoming UEFA Champions League quarter-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund with getting back on track domestically. [/p]
[p]The immediate challenge for Atlético is to improve their away form, as they have failed to win on their last six road trips (D2, L4). All four defeats saw them fail to score, but the visitors can perhaps look at their record of six straight league victories on a Monday for inspiration.[/p]
[p]Players to watch: Alexander SĂžrlothâs impact has usually come late in matches recently, with four of his last six La Liga goals arriving after the hour mark. AtlĂ©ticoâs Ălvaro Morata has a decent chance of netting before him though, as his last four league goals have come between the 44th and 54th minutes.[/p]
[p]Hot stat: Villarreal and Atlético are the only teams in La Liga this campaign not to have scored or conceded an opener after the 75th minute.[/p]