Villarreal v Atletico Madrid Betting Preview – La Liga 18th March 5.30pm
Atletico responded well to their recent setback against leaders Barcelona with a win last weekend which keeps them locked into second place. With rivals Real Madrid gather moment Atletico can’t afford any slips and this could be a tricky game for them against sixth-placed Villarreal. It should at least be another good test of Atletico’s character.
Villarreal v Atletico Madrid Betting Tips
Villarreal took a 2-0 win out at Las Palmas last weekend, snapping a two match losing streak that they were on. They start the weekend in sixth place in the league but have been struggling for form since the start of February.They have gone W2 D1 L4 in their last seven league games, losing two of their last three at home. Overall this season they have produced a W7 D2 L4 record at the Estadio de la Cerámica. The Yellow Submarines have averaged 1.8 goals per home game in the league which isn’t a bad return really and almost a third of their home games have gone above three goals. This has more the look of being a low scoring game though and under 2.5 with bet365 is at 4/7 odds* (Betting Odds taken at 09:18 p.m. on March 14th, 2018). They have only been behind twice at half time this season on home soil and have scored 57% of their home goals in the second half of matches. They have conceded 71% of their home goals after the break as well.
Atletico Madrid look as if second place is the best that they can get in the league this season and that is where they start this weekend. Atletico were on a three-match winning streak on their travels before their recent trip to Barcelona where they lost 1-0. Their overall away form is good this season at W9 D3 L2. They have only conceded the eight goals on the road, as you would expect them to do with their great defensive setup, and that’s an average of just 0.6 goals per game against them. They have produced well going forward at 1.7 goals per away game. Antoine Griezmann has scored a total of eight goals in his last four league outings for the club and he is the 9/2 first goalscorer favourite at bet365* (Betting Odds taken at 01:18 a.m. on March 14th, 2018). This is a team which has won seven of their last nine away games in the league and with Villarreal just stuttering a bit, it could be a good time for Atleti to head there.
Villarreal v Atletico Madrid Head to Head
The two played out a 1-1 draw earlier in the season and that actually leaves Villarreal unbeaten in their last five games against Atletico in the league (W3 D2). nine of the last ten meetings have gone under 2.5 goals, seven of those staying under 1.5 goals so the trend leads to the suggestion that this is going to be a tight game. Villarreal have won their last two games at home against Atletico without scoring.
Villarreal v Atletico Madrid Betting Odds*
Atletico Madrid even money, Draw 21/10, Villarreal 16/5* (Betting Odds taken at 01:18 a.m. on March 14th, 2018)
Villarreal v Atletico Madrid Predictions
This will be a tricky away game for Atletico Madrid, but Barcelona are the only ones to have gotten the better of them recently and Villarreal are not in that great of form to suggest that they are going to collected three home points. Away win.
