Our prediction for this Primera Division match:
Villarreal and Atletico Madrid face each other at Estadio de la Ceramica in what is expected to be one of the most entertaining games of Sunday’s program. Villarreal have nothing to play for in the last match of the season, but they surely want to finish the campaign in great manner. Giovani Lo Celso is widely expected to return to the starting XI after scoring as a substitute in a 2-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano, whereas Alfonso Pedraza is banned for the match. Francis Coquelin misses out with an ACL injury.
Los Rojiblancos, on the other hand, aim to build on a 2-1 win over Real Sociedad. Diego Simeone’s troops are eager to overtake their bitter rivals Real Madrid in second place and seeing that they want this win more than Villarreal, we are going to bet on the in-form visitors. Rodrigo De Paul misses out through suspension, while Reinildo Mandava misses out with an ACL injury. Both Marcos Llorente and Jan Oblak are major doubts as well as Memphis Depay.
Highlighted Player (Aissa Mandi):
Aissa Mandi is a product of Reims’ youth school. After playing eight matches for Reims II in the 2009/2010 season, he started playing for the first team in 2010. Mandi made his Reims debut against Le Havre on 20 August, 2010 and he remained at Stade Auguste Delaune until 30 June, 2016, when he decided to join Spanish side Real Betis.
The Algeria international, who was born in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, signed a five-year contract with los Beticos which expires on 30 June, 2021. His main position is centre back, but he is capable of playing as a full back as well. The right-footed defender made his Algeria debut on 5 March, 2014 and he helped the Algerian national team keep a clean sheet in a 2-0 win over Slovenia.
Mandi impressed at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, but he scored his first goal for Algeria in a 3-3 draw with Ethiopia in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. He represented Algeria at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations as well.
Highlighted Team (Atletico Madrid):
Atletico Madrid are a Spanish team that plays in Primera Division (La Liga). Los Rojiblancos or los Colchoneros play their home matches at Estadio Vicente Calderon, which holds up to 54,960 spectators. Atletico Madrid have won 10 La Liga titles, but they have yet to lift the European Cup (Champions League) trophy.
Los Rojiblancos have won 10 Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) trophies and it has to be noted that they defeated their bitter local rivals Real Madrid in the 2012/2013 Spanish Cup final. The rivalry between the two capital clubs is pretty big and El Madrileno is regarded as one of the most exciting derbies in the world football.
Atletico Madrid played two Champions League finals under Diego Simeone, but they failed to beat Real Madrid in the title games (2013/2014 and 2015/2016). However, the Argentine tactician helped Atletico Madrid win the La Liga trophy in 2014 and, no doubt, he is one of the most successful coaches in the history of the capital club.