Villarreal CF vs Atletico Madrid Prediction 24 May 2026
Added on 22 May, 2026
Villarreal CF and Atlético Madrid will meet in the final round of La Liga with third place still up for grabs, despite both sides already securing Champions League football for next season.
Villarreal looked strong at the end of April and beginning of May, defeating Celta Vigo (2-1) and Levante (5-1) at home. However, the Yellow Submarine then lost momentum, dropping points against Mallorca (1-1), Sevilla (2-3), and Rayo Vallecano (0-2). They remain third with 69 points and a 67:45 goal difference, but their position is far from secure heading into the last round.
Atlético Madrid, on the other hand, have responded well since their Champions League exit. Diego Simeone’s men won four of their last five league matches, beating Athletic Club (3-2), Valencia (2-0), Osasuna (2-1), and Girona (1-0), while only slipping up against Celta Vigo (0-1). Atlético now sit fourth with the same 69 points and a 61:39 goal difference.
The first meeting between these sides ended in a home victory for Atlético, meaning a draw here would likely be enough for the visitors to secure a top-three finish. Villarreal’s recent decline in intensity and consistency suggests they may not approach this clash with maximum urgency, making a balanced and cautious encounter a very realistic outcome.
Atletico not to lose (1X) 1.56