La Liga: Villarreal — Atlético Madrid

Posted on | March 29, 2008 | No Comments

The ‘Fifa virus’ has hit again and this time it is Atlético Madrid’s turn to be the victim. Portuguese midfielder Simao Sabrosa will miss this vital clash on Sunday owing to a thigh strain he picked up during the Portugal vs. Greece friendly international on Wednesday. He limped off after just fifteen minutes so as not to aggravate the injury, but it seems he hasn’t been able to shake it off in time. This comes as a great disappointment to coach Javier Aguirre, who joins other managers with international players who don’t want these games played at the end of the season when their best players are needed the most.
Villarreal have gone twenty nine games aspiring to get into the Champions league, but now it seems they could be in with a shout of winning the league, too. They play hosts to an in form Atlético Madrid side who last weekend got an impressive (and rather unexpected) win away at Sevilla. A win here for Atlético would narrow the gap between third and fourth places to three points, but if Villarreal take it they could even end the weekend in second place depending on what Barcelona do and come within three points of Real Madrid. So a very important game for both clubs and one that will be very intense form the kick off.
Villarreal coach Pellegrini will not be able to count on Guille Franco, but apart from the Frenchman the rest of the squad is fit. For Atlético Madrid the problem for Javier Aguirre is finding the right replacement for Simao. That will probably fall to ex-Liverpool midfielder Luis Garcia, as it seems Jose Antonio Reyes has less chance of getting a game every week.
I’m going for a draw here as these are two evenly matched sides who never give up trying to score and who have everything to play for.
Prediction: Draw (2-2)

Related posts:

1. La Liga: Atlético Madrid vs. Almeria
2. La Liga: Mallorca vs. Atlético Madrid
3. La Liga: Racing de Santander vs. Atlético Madrid
4. La Liga: Osasuna vs. Atlético Madrid
5. La Liga: Sevilla vs. Atlético Madrid

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