Atlético Madrid favourites to claim first La Liga win | OneFootball

Atlético de Madrid secured a solid 2-0 victory against Villarreal in their third-round La Liga clash at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano this Saturday (13th).

Pablo Barrios opened the scoring just 9 minutes in, with a well-placed shot assisted by Julián Álvarez. The home team doubled their lead in the second half with a header from Nico González, following a counter-attack orchestrated by Marcos Llorente.

Despite Villarreal's efforts, including a free-kick from Nicolas Pépé that hit the crossbar, they were unable to break through Atlético's defense.

Player of the Match

Julián Álvarez was the standout, providing the crucial assist for the opening goal and constantly threatening Villarreal's defense. His dynamic play and vision were key to the Colchonero's offensive success.

Intriguing Statistic

Atleti managed to maintain 60.6% possession during the match, demonstrating their dominance in controlling the pace of the game against a typically resilient Villarreal.

What We Learned

Atlético de Madrid's early goal set the tone, with Pablo Barrios capitalizing on a perfect assist from Julián Álvarez. Villarreal struggled to find their rhythm, despite some promising attempts, including Nicolas Pépé's great chance.

The second half saw Atlético's defense hold firm, while Nico González's header sealed the victory. The match highlighted Atlético's tactical discipline and their ability to exploit counter-attacks, leaving Villarreal searching for answers.

Current Standings

Atlético's victory moves them to 9th place in LaLiga, a significant jump from their previous 17th position. Villarreal, on the other hand, drops to 4th place.

See the full standings here.

What's Next

Atlético de Madrid will face a challenging test against Liverpool at Anfield. Meanwhile, Villarreal will travel to London to face Tottenham. Both games are in the Champions League.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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