Metropolitano is first Champions League test for Iñigo Pérez’s new Villarreal | OneFootball

Villarreal visit the Riyadh Air Metropolitano on Sunday, 23 August, in LaLiga’s second round. Atlético Madrid, also bound for this season’s Champions League, provide Iñigo Pérez’s first major test.

El Periódico Mediterráneo notes that trips to the Metropolitano demand precision, personality, defensive focus and resilience under Atlético control.

Continuity underpins Villarreal’s plan. Last season’s core remains, with decision-makers intact. Juan Foyth and Renato Veiga add authority, elite full backs stay, and Carlos Romero pushes on.

Pape Gueye and Santi Comesaña supply power and range, while Alberto Moleiro brings spark. Nicolas Pepe, Gerard Moreno, Ayoze Pérez and Georges Mikautadze offer complementary threats in the final third.

Atlético have refreshed through investment. Four signings total 142 million euros, Alejandro Grimaldo for 22 from Bayer Leverkusen, Morten Hjulmand for 40 from Sporting de Lisboa, Kang-in Lee for 40 from PSG, and Cristian Cuti Romero for 40 from Tottenham. Romero is a doubt with a right knee issue.

There is uncertainty over Julián Álvarez’s continuity, the attack’s leading reference. The rebuild is also shaped by exits, with Antoine Griezmann to MLS, Nahuel Molina to Roma and Thiago Almada back to River Plate.

On the touchline, Diego Pablo Simeone begins his 16th season, while Iñigo Pérez starts his first role at Champions level after Rayo Vallecano. An early trip, and a chance to gauge how far Villarreal’s ideas reach.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”