Sat Jan 25 16:00:00 UTC 2025: ## Atletico Madrid Aim to Reclaim La Liga Lead Against Villarreal

**Madrid, Spain** – Atletico Madrid will look to bounce back from a recent upset and regain their La Liga lead when they host Villarreal at the Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday. Currently sitting two points behind Real Madrid, a victory would put Atletico back atop the table, ahead of Real Madrid’s later match against Real Valladolid.

Atletico’s 15-game winning streak ended last weekend with a surprising defeat to Leganes, but they swiftly recovered with a Champions League win over Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday. While their Champions League campaign is progressing well, the La Liga title remains a priority. Their home form has been exceptional this season, accumulating 26 points from 10 matches at the Wanda Metropolitano, where they’ve conceded only six goals.

However, they face a formidable attacking challenge in Villarreal, who boast the third-best attacking record in La Liga with 38 goals. Villarreal, currently fifth and chasing Champions League qualification, are focused solely on the league for the remainder of the season. Their recent form shows improvement, with two wins in their last three league games. Despite their offensive prowess, their defensive record is less impressive, having conceded 31 goals. The two teams fought to a 2-2 draw in their earlier encounter this season.

Atletico may be without Alexander Sorloth due to injury and Javi Galan through suspension. Manager Diego Simeone might revert to a 4-4-2 formation, potentially including Conor Gallagher in the starting lineup. Villarreal could see the return of Ayoze Perez, who scored 11 goals this season, potentially replacing Gerard Moreno in the starting XI. Alex Baena, a rumored Atletico target, is also expected to start.

The match promises to be a captivating encounter between two strong teams. While Villarreal enters the game with momentum, Atletico’s resilience shown in their recent Champions League performance suggests a challenging match for the visitors. The prediction leans towards an Atletico victory at home.

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