MX23RW : Thursday, December 19 17:05:43| >> :120:5815:5815:

Preview: Atletico Madrid vs. Villarreal

Sports Mole previews the La Liga encounter between Atletico Madrid and Villarreal.

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone will be hopeful that his side can extend their recent record to 11 wins from 13 games when they host Villarreal on Sunday.

Last year's La Liga champions have recovered from a slow start to this campaign to move to within four points of leaders Real Madrid in the league table, while a goalless draw away at Juventus in midweek ensured that they topped their Champions League group.

Antoine Griezmann is pushing for a start behind Mario Mandzukic but defender Miranda is expected to remain absent with a hamstring problem.

Like their opponents, Villarreal have put together an impressive run of results, with El Submarino Amarillo not suffering defeat in seven matches in all competitions.

During that period, Marcelino Garcia Toral's team have won three successive games in La Liga, including the 4-0 thrashing of Real Sociedad last weekend.

Villarreal, who possess the second-best defensive record on the road this season, are likely to be without Cani and Mateo Musacchio for the game at the Vicente Calderon.

Atletico Madrid:

Form in La Liga: WWLWWW
Form in all competitions: WWWWWD

Possible starting lineup: Moya; Juanfran, Godin, Gimenez, Siqueira; Mario, Gabi, Koke; Turan, Mandzukic, Garcia

Villarreal:

Form in La Liga: LLDWWW
Form in all competitions: WDWWWW

Possible starting lineup: Asenjo; Mario. Gabriel, Ruiz, Costa; Bruno, Trigueros; Dos Santos, Cheryshev, Vietto; Uche

Sports Mole says: 2-1


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Darren Plant
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Sevilla's Colombian forward Carlos Bacca celebrates after scoring during the Spanish league football match Sevilla FC vs Granada FC at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on November 30, 2014
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona18122450203038
2Atletico MadridAtletico17115131112038
3Real Madrid17114237162137
4Athletic Bilbao1896327161133
5Villarreal177642928127
6Mallorca188371821-327
7Real Sociedad177461611525
8Osasuna176742225-325
9Real BetisBetis176652021-124
10GironaGirona176472325-222
11Sevilla176471823-522
12Rayo Vallecano175661920-121
13Celta Vigo176382528-321
14Las PalmasLas Palmas175482227-519
15Leganes174671523-818
16Getafe173771114-316
17AlavesAlaves174491928-916
18Espanyol1743101629-1315
19Real ValladolidValladolid1733111234-2212
20Valencia162591424-1011


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