La Liga: Fluctuating Fortunes Should Make for Entertaining Spectacle

Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid

A meeting between the Europa League holders and the La Liga champions.

Two of the Spanish clubs who have overcome the odds to claim some of the game’s biggest honours at the expense of much more established rivals.

It’s eighth versus fourth currently which shows just how the first half of the season has not gone to plan for either club.

Yet that should not mean any fewer La Liga 2022 highlights than normal when the two meet at El Madrigal on Sunday.

Talking Points

For a start, the home side are in fine form and have scored 10 goals in their last two league games, following up a 5-2 win over Alaves in Christmas week with a 5-0 New Year thrashing of Levante.

That is four straight wins for the Yellow Submarine, although they were brought back down to earth somewhat in midweek when they were dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Sporting Gijon.

Unai Emery’s men were on course for victory when Raul Albiol fired them into the lead three minutes into the second half, only for goals from Uros Djurdjevic and Bogdan Milovanov to turn the game on its head, including an 88^th-minute winner.

That meant Sporting, 12th in the Segunda Division, eliminated a team which next month will take on Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League.

Villarreal certainly weren’t helped by a slew of positive COVID-19 tests in the ranks ahead of their cup trip to Asturias.

Emery is currently without a number of players with Arnaut Danjuma, Francis Coquelin, Ruben Pena, and Paco Alcacer all out injured, while Samu Chukwueze, Boulaye Dia, Serge Aurier, and Aissa Mandi are participating in the African Cup of Nations.

However, they should be able to call upon Gerard Moreno, Dani Parejo, and Juan Foyth this weekend.

While Villarreal were enjoying four straight wins, Atletico suffered four straight losses in December, including defeat in the Madrid derby.

They managed to end that losing run last weekend by recording a 2-0 victory over high-flying Rayo Vallecano at Wanda Metropolitano.

Atletico have just sold Kieran Trippier to Newcastle United and are being lined for Lille right-back Mehmet Zeki Celik as his replacement.

There’ll be no new faces ready for this one though.

Stefan Savic will still be out with a thigh problem, while Marcos Llorente remains a doubt due to a muscular issue.

Luis Suarez and Jose Gimenez are also both suspended, so Antoine Griezmann and Mario Hermoso are in line for starts, while Angel Correa, Koke, and Sime Vrsaljko should come into the side.

They had no problems seeing off lower league side Rayo Majadahonda in the Spanish Cup in midweek 5-0.

With both sides experiencing such fluctuating fortunes so far this term, literally anything could happen.

History

This match last season saw Atletico run out 2-0 winners, courtesy of an own goal and Joao Felix.

The return fixture was an exciting four goal contest as the sides shared the spoils and the points with Atletico twice coming from behind to Manu Trigueros and Danjuma goals through Suarez and a 95^th-minute own goal.

It was in 2018 that Villarreal last beat Atletico at home, a 2-1 victory when two goals in the final eight minutes from Enes Unal caused delight for the home faithful after their side had trailed to a Griezmann opener.

That remains their only win against Los Rojiblancos in eight attempts.

Betting Tip

	Villarreal vs Atletico Madrid	1X2 Draw @ 3.15
	January 10, 4:00 (GMT+8)

As match-ups go, this is one which the ‘experts’ believe is too close to call.

The away team are slight favourites with 1X2 odds priced @ 2.59 and the hosts available to back 1X2 @ 2.74.

Have a look at the other array of SBOTOP La Liga 2022 betting odds first though.

These include Asian Handicap Villarreal 0.00 @ 2.02 and Atletico -0.25 @ 2.28, both of which tempted me.

If Atletico are to repeat last year’s corresponding fixture, then Correct Score 0-2 will pay out @ 13.00.

A repeat of their last meeting – the 2-2 draw in Madrid last term – sees odds of @ 13.50 are on offer.

After Villarreal went goal crazy in recent weeks, then you may fancy plenty of goals in this one and total goal 4-6 @ 4.20 compares more favourably than 2-3 @ 1.89 or even over 2.50 goal @ 2.25.

If you want to go further than my prediction of level pegging, then Half Time Full Time Draw Draw is on the stocks @ 4.30.