Ademola Lookman’s Atletico Madrid vs Villarreal: Preview, team news, tips, h2h

Atletico Madrid host Villarreal at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in a Matchday 2 fixture that already carries an edge early in the La Liga season, Afrik-Foot reports.

Atletico opened their campaign with a comfortable, clean-sheet win, while Villarreal needed a second-half comeback away from home to salvage a point, already under new head coach Iñigo Pérez.

Match analysis: Simeone’s rebuilt squad against Iñigo Pérez’s new project

Atletico Madrid underwent significant changes to the squad during the transfer window. Alex Grimaldo, Morten Hjulmand and Kang-in Lee arrived to strengthen the defence, midfield and attack respectively, while Cristian “Cuti” Romero joined from Tottenham Hotspur and signed a contract until 2031. Among the departures, Antoine Griezmann left for Orlando City, Nico González returned to Juventus, and Molina was sold to Roma.

Pre-season was used to integrate the new arrivals, and Kang-in Lee justified the early promise by scoring on his league debut in a 2-0 win over Malaga. The result also showed that Atletico are still searching for their best attacking rhythm following the changes to the group. Cristian Romero adds experience and leadership to the defence, Hjulmand strengthens the midfield, and Grimaldo and Lee widen the attacking options out wide. Atletico Madrid therefore begin the season with a heavily reshuffled squad still finding its final shape.

Villarreal also underwent major changes during the window. Dani Parejo, Thomas Partey, Rafa Marín and Alfonso Pedraza left the club, while goalkeeper Péter Gulácsi arrived from RB Leipzig. Carlos Romero also returned to the first-team squad on a permanent basis after two loan spells at Espanyol.

Pre-season ended with a 2-1 win over Galatasaray, with goals from Ayoze Pérez and Georges Mikautadze. The club also promoted young players such as Carlos Maciá and Alassane Diatta, while working to add midfield depth following the exits of Parejo and Partey. Villarreal officially began the season with a 2-2 draw against Racing Santander, gaining further confidence after coming back from two goals down. Iñigo Pérez’s side arrive at the Metropolitano, therefore, still adjusting the squad and seeking greater depth in some positions.

Head-to-head record between Atletico Madrid and Villarreal

Atletico Madrid and Villarreal have met fifty times in their history, with 18 wins for the Madrid side, 16 draws and 16 wins for the Yellow Submarine. In La Liga specifically, the sides have met 48 times, with 17 wins for Atletico, 16 draws and 15 defeats.

In the five most recent meetings, Atletico hold the advantage, with two wins, two draws and one defeat. The most recent encounter, however, ended in a 5-1 rout in Villarreal’s favour last season.

As hosts, Atletico Madrid’s record is stronger: 24 matches, with twelve wins, seven draws and five defeats. Villarreal’s last win at the Madrid side’s stadium came in 2022, by a 2-0 scoreline.

Team News: Atletico Madrid and Villarreal injury updates and predicted lineups

Atletico Madrid

Diego Simeone is unlikely to count on Alexander Sorloth, who is recovering from a muscle injury. Cristian Romero and Morten Hjulmand are also still being assessed by the medical staff before the match.

Julián Álvarez is being managed cautiously too, having missed the opener against Malaga. The Argentine has, however, returned to training and remains an option for the Villarreal fixture. With Sorloth sidelined and Álvarez’s fitness in question, Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman, who is the club’s marquee arrival from Atalanta earlier this year, has become one of Simeone’s few recognised attacking options up front.

Atletico have also decided to pursue a loan exit for Obed Vargas, who was left out of the squad for the opening match. According to journalist César Luis Merlo, Getafe, Alavés, Valencia, Sevilla and Feyenoord have all shown interest in the Mexican midfielder.

Predicted Atletico Madrid lineup (4-4-2): Oblak; Marcos Llorente, José Giménez, Le Normand and Alex Grimaldo; Johnny Cardoso, Koke, Kang-in Lee and Alex Baena; Ademola Lookman and Carlos Martín. Manager: Diego Simeone.

Villarreal

Promising Senegalese talent Alassane Diatta is currently serving a two-match suspension following a red card picked up at the end of last season. The player is expected to be available for Villarreal’s next fixture, against Alavés, on August 28.

Sergi Cardona is also among the club’s absentees through injury. Gerard Moreno, on the other hand, has no confirmed absence and remains among the options for the trip to Madrid.

Predicted Villarreal lineup (4-4-2): Luiz Júnior; Santiago Mouriño, Juan Foyth, Renato Veiga and Carlos Romero; Nicolás Pépé, Santi Comesaña, Pape Gueye and Alberto Moleiro; Ayoze Pérez and Georges Mikautadze. Manager: Iñigo Pérez.

Player spotlight: Kang-in Lee and Nicolás Pépé impress on their debuts

The head coaches: Diego Simeone’s experience against Iñigo Pérez’s first steps

Diego Simeone

Simeone has been in charge of Atletico Madrid since December 2011 and recently renewed his contract until June 2027. Having overseen 801 matches at the helm, the Argentine is the club’s longest-serving coach and its most successful, with eight trophies won.

Among his major honours are two La Liga titles, two Europa League titles, two UEFA Super Cups, one Copa del Rey and one Spanish Super Cup. Over more than a decade in charge, Simeone has also established Atletico Madrid among the leading clubs in Spain and Europe.

Iñigo Pérez

Iñigo Pérez took charge of Villarreal in June 2026, having built his managerial reputation with Rayo Vallecano. He led that side through the 2025-26 season before beginning a new chapter with the Yellow Submarine.

At Villarreal, the Spaniard has so far taken charge of just one match. His debut ended in a 2-2 draw with Racing Santander on the opening weekend of La Liga.

With only one game in charge, Iñigo Pérez remains early in his project and is still working to implement his ideas. The trip to face Atletico Madrid will, therefore, represent another significant test for the new coach.

Tactical analysis: How Atletico Madrid and Villarreal are likely to line up

Simeone is expected to keep the base of a compact 4-4-2, with Koke and Johnny Cardoso screening the back four while Kang-in Lee looks to find pockets of space between the lines. Sorloth’s absence removes a focal point up front for Atletico, which should open space for Ademola Lookman and Carlos Martín to interchange in areas closer to the byline.

Villarreal, for their part, also set up in a 4-4-2 under Iñigo Pérez, with Nicolás Pépé stationed wide on the right to seek individual duels against Atletico’s left side. Without Diatta to add mobility to the midfield, the Comesaña-Gueye pairing may be tied more closely to defensive duties, which could help Atletico’s numerical superiority in build-up play. The duel between Grimaldo’s forward runs down Atletico’s left and Foyth’s defensive solidity for Villarreal is also worth watching closely.

Atletico Madrid vs. Villarreal: Predictions and betting tips

With home advantage and an opponent still finding its feet under a new coach, Atletico go into the meeting as favourites.

Score prediction

Atletico arrive with one of the strongest squads in the competition, while Villarreal are still building their identity under Iñigo Pérez.

Home advantage and a more settled starting eleven favour Atletico, who should manage the spaces better against a Villarreal side still adjusting tactically. Even so, Villarreal’s recent record of scoring on the road supports the expectation that the visitors will also find the net, even in a game that ultimately favours the hosts.

The Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Atletico’s home ground, has a capacity of 70,460.
Temperatures in Madrid are forecast to reach around 31°C at kick-off.