Atletico Madrid striker Antoine Griezmann. (Photo : Getty Images)
Contending clubs Villarreal CF (6-3-5, 23 points) and Atletico Madrid (7-3-4, 25 points) are scheduled to meet one another on Monday, Dec. 12 at the Estadio El Madrigal for a round 15 match in the 2016-2017 La Liga season.
Start Time and Streaming Info
The game starts at 2:45 p.m. ET. It can be viewed live online thru FuboTV.
Villarreal is reeling at the moment with three consecutive winless performances. The team has been winless in four of their last five outings to stay in the fifth spot of the league table, only two points below fourth-place squad Atletico Madrid.
The Yellow Submarine is coming off a 0-0 draw with newly-promoted side Leganes on the road at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque last Saturday, as per Football España.
Villarreal head coach Fran Escribá was reportedly "unhappy" about his team's performance against Leganes, specifically criticizing his forwards' "lack of invention".
"While winning is very difficult, I'm not happy because we didn't create many chances," Escribá told reporters after the match. "On the positive side, it's true that it wasn't a particularly fun spectacle, although in the second half we clearly improved."
"The forwards ultimately have to contribute. Just like defending is a team issue, so is attacking," the coach added."
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid was also held to a similar 0-0 tie by middling team Espanyol last Saturday at their home field of Estadio Vicente Calderón, Sports Mole reported.
It was the second straight unbeaten performance for head coach Diego Simeone's side, but the Argentine manager is said to be unsatisfied as the team is now eight and six points below its top rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Sevilla and surprise squad Real Sociedad are currently both ahead of Atleti in the standings as Madrid is having problems finding goals in the past couple of games.
Villarreal and Atletico Madrid presently hold the two Europa League qualifying berths for next season. However, one of them might give it up depending on the result of their match on Monday.
Prediction and Predicted Lineup
The predicted result is a 3-1 romp for Atletico Madrid.
Villarreal starting lineup (4-4-2 formation): Asenjo; Costa, Ruiz, Mario, Musacchio; Soriano, Hernandez, Castillejo, Trigueros; Sansone, Pato
Atletico Madrid starting lineup (4-3-3 formation): Oblak; Luis, Godin, Gimenez, Juanfran; Koke, Gabi, Tiago; Carrasco, Griezmann, Gameiro
