It’s the battle of Champions League hopefuls as third take on fourth. Villarreal welcome Atlético Madrid to the Madrigal in what is a massive clash for each side.Both teams have taken significant steps in recent weeks towards securing a top four finish in La Liga and a win for either side this weekend could go a long way in confirming their ticket to Europe’s blue ribbon competition.
Homing In On Their Target
Villarreal have reignited their season over the past two months after a slump towards the end of 2007. They have now gone eight league games without defeat, winning five of them, to successfully consolidate their third place position. It’s the kind of dazzling form that saw them gallantly challenge perennial favourites Real Madrid and Barcelona for top spot in the early parts of the campaign.
And with the big two stumbling in recent weeks, the humble Valencian-based outfit are once again back within an earshot of the summit as they sit just two points behind Barça and a further four to league leaders Real Madrid. All of a sudden, they’ve inexplicably found themselves in the title hunt, albeit as clear outsiders in this three-horse race. But their main aim really is to ensure that they book a place in the Champions League for next term, a target that they are on course to achieving.
Manuel Pellegrini’s side have been fortunate enough to take on fairly easy opposition in their last few round of matches. Other than the visit to Barcelona three weeks ago, in which they clinched a stunning 1-2 triumph, their four other adversaries were all struggling sides placed well outside of the top ten at the time of meeting.
Be that as it may, El Submarino Amarillo have cashed in expertly, raking in 13 points from those last five games. But they will now face a much sterner test of their Champions League credentials when they lock horns with direct rivals Atlético Madrid on Saturday.
A win for Villarreal will put them well poised to seal at least third position in the final standings come the end of the term, whilst at the same time all but confirm a ticket to Europe’s glamour competition for only the second time in their club’s history. Moreover, it will give them sufficient breathing space to the chasing pack below and allow them to focus on maintaining their challenge for the league title.
Back On Track
Atlético Madrid, like their opponents on Saturday, are also looking to make their second appearance in the Champions League since the competition’s change of format and name in 1992.
A topsy-turvy few months for Los Colchoneros have seen them drift in and out of the top four but three wins in their last four games have enabled them to stamp their mark on that final Champions League spot. None of those wins, however, were more crucial than the surprise 1-2 victory at Sevilla last week. The triumph gave the capital club a five point buffer to the Andalucians – although they are only three ahead of Racing Santander in fifth – and effectively handed Atleti the advantage in the head-to-head record should the two sides fail to be separated by their points tally at the end of the season.
The win also comes as a huge psychological boost for an Atlético side who have never quite been able to perform against opponents of their own calibre, but a recent win over another big gun, Barcelona, has proven that perhaps they are starting to become Champions League material after all.
Inconsistency, however, still remains an insoluble issue for coach Javier Aguirre and had it not been for the team’s patchy form, they could have been right in the thick of things in the title race. As a case in point, they were unable to build on the high of that sensational 4-2 win over Barça four weeks ago as they crashed to a 2-1 loss at relegation-threatened Real Zaragoza in the following game.
With eight more rounds still to go after this weekend, anything short of a smooth, solid run towards the finish line could potentially undo all the hard work the rojiblancos have put into their season to finally join Europe’s elite club.
FORM GUIDE
Villarreal
Mar 23 UD Levante vs Villarreal 1-2 (LA LIGA)
Mar 16 Villarreal vs Real Zaragoza 2-0 (LA LIGA)
Mar 09 Barcelona vs Villarreal 1-2 (LA LIGA)
Mar 02 Villarreal vs Osasuna 0-0 (LA LIGA)
Feb 24 Athletic Bilbao vs Villarreal 1-2 (LA LIGA)
Atlético Madrid
Mar 22 Sevilla vs Atlético Madrid 1-2 (LA LIGA)
Mar 16 Atlético Madrid vs UD Levante 3-0 (LA LIGA)
Mar 08 Real Zaragoza vs Atlético Madrid 2-1 (LA LIGA)
Mar 01 Atlético Madrid vs Barcelona 4-2 (LA LIGA)
Feb 24 Osasuna vs Atlético Madrid 3-1 (LA LIGA)
TEAM NEWS
Villarreal
French winger Robert Pirès signed a contract extension in midweek to stay with the Yellow Submarines for another year. Although he is a key component in the squad, his place in the starting XI has come under threat over the past two games and he could once again start from the bench this week.
Guillermo Franco, who was the hero last week when he netted the winner against Levante, has made a full recovery from niggle in his right knee and he could be favoured for a start upfront this week. Competition will be fierce, though, with Giuseppe Rossi back in the squad after returning from the hugely successful Euro U-21 qualifiers with Italy in midweek, where he scored twice.
Pellegrini’s only real injury concern is with defender Pascal Cygan, who is doubtful as he nurses a bout of tendonitis in his right knee.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Diego López – Javi Venta, Gonzalo, Godín, Capdevila – Cazorla, Senna (c), Eguren, Matí Fernández – Guille Franco/Rossi, Nihat
Atlético Madrid
Winger Simão Sabrosa is certain to miss the trip to Vila-real due to a muscle pull in his left thigh which he picked up while on International duty with Portugal. Thiago Motta will also be sidelined as he continues his battle with his troublesome knee problems, while Juan Valera also looks set to be omitted from the squad due to a lack of match fitness after a recent muscular injury.
The good news for Aguirre, however, is that Raúl García is back in the squad. The holding midfielder suffered a sprained ankle last week against Sevilla but has since made a full recovery and even played for a full hour in midweek for the Spanish U-21 side.
Also returning to the side is Italian goalkeeper Christian Abbiati, who has shrugged off an ankle knock and he should get the nod ahead of Leo Franco between the sticks.
Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Abbiati – Antonio López, Perea, Pablo, Pernía – Maxi (c), Cleber, Raúl García, Luís Garcia – Forlán, Agüero
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Villarreal – Diego López
The ex-Real Madrid second choice goalkeeper has been a revelation this season. Although he didn’t do too well against his former club, conceding three times in a 3-2 loss, he will have a chance to make amends against his old city foes from Madrid. Indeed, the 26 year old will have to pull off another man-of-the-match performance in order to stop Atlético’s back in form frontline.
Atlético Madrid – Diego Forlán
The former Villarreal top scorer will be out to plot the downfall of his erstwhile employers. Along with his strike partner Sergio Agüero, the fearsome duo has struck 25 goals between them and they will be only too keen to add on to that prolific haul. They will be the main threat to Villarreal not just in this game, but for the remainder of the season as they try to snatch away third place.
PREDICTION
This is a match up tailor-made for Villarreal. In their last three outings, they have shown just how devastatingly effective they can be with their counter-attacking play. It’s a style that will severely trouble Atlético, who have had a tendency to play reckless attacking football at times. Unless Atleti change their approach for this game, the hosts should have the advantage in this encounter.
Villarreal 2–1 Atlético Madrid
