Villarreal close to ‘sorpasso’ over Atlético as five-point cushion tilts race for third | OneFootball

Villarreal are closing in on a sorpasso over Atlético, holding a five-point advantage with six to play. Champions League qualification is virtually secured for a second successive year, a first for the club.

According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, Atlético’s 3-2 defeat at Elche and Villarreal’s 1-1 at Oviedo leave Villarreal with better than a 75% chance of finishing third. Some projections push it to 80%, and for now the final-day meeting at the Estadio de la Cerámica, after the 2-0 at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, is seen as a formality.

Despite reaching the Copa del Rey final and Champions League semis, Atlético are on their worst run under Diego Simeone, with one win, one draw after penalties, and six defeats in their last eight. They also face a two-legged showdown with Arsenal over the next two weeks.

Before finishing the domestic campaign in Vila-real, Atlético host Athletic Club on Saturday at 21.00, then visit Valencia, host Celta, travel to El Sadar, and welcome Girona to the Metropolitano.

On paper, Villarreal’s run-in is lighter, with Celta and Levante at La Cerámica, Mallorca at Son Moix, Sevilla in Vila-real, and Rayo in Vallecas.

It has been a record spend for Villarreal, €102 million last summer after €108 million of sales plus €3.2 million in January, still well short of Atlético’s €176 million and €38 million in winter. The difference between third and fourth is worth between €6 million and €7 million in domestic TV income.

Santiago Mouriño left injured in Oviedo with ankle and knee pain. With Celta at 21.00 tomorrow, his involvement is doubtful.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo