Raúl García is hit by an opponent's elbow in the back – painful!

Weak ball controll by Pina on the right win, throw in Atlético.

A long cross from the right outside lane by the guests is way too high for their forwards.

The hosts just kick the ball into the Villarreal half. There is no intention to decided this match, Atlético just concentrate on their own defense.

Three minutes are added to the game.

Tiago hit his shoulder inside the Atlético half after a crash with an opponent and there is a short break to see if he is okay.

A pass back to their own goalkeeper by the Villarreal defense almost is intercepted by an Atlético forward...

Mario lands hard on his back after an aerial duel with Raúl García but he is able to continue in this match.

Long ball by Bruno that crosses the endline for an Atlético goal kick.

Moi Gómez with an effort that is a bit too hard when he fouls Juanfran from behind just at the endline in the Atlético half.

Villarreal stay in controll of the ball most of the time but they really find no way into the guest box and time is running out for them slowly but steadily.

Tiago with a nice lob to the left wing but the following cross by Filipe Luis towards the penalty shot point is too high for his team mates!

Great solo by Sosa on the right wing, gives the ball to the left and from about 20 metres distance Tiago has an open shooting lane but hits the ball weak and it goes wide a couple metres to the left.

Villarreal are playing like a home team but lack ideas and the last will to break through the strong Atlético defense. This will be a tough last quarter of an hour for Atlético though.

The home fans are supporting their team well despite the nervous game but there are the first who also show that they are not happy with the performance of the La Liga leaders.

Finally some offense by Atlético agan but a flat and not well aimed shot by Raúl García from a central position about 20 metres in front of the net is no danger at all for Asenjo.

Mario with a pass to the left for Pina who waits a bit too long and has to break up his shooting attempt 20 metres in front of the Atlético net.

The new man on the pitch, Adrián, tries to send Filipe Luis with a pass towards the six-yard box but due to a misunderstanding Filipe Luis didn't take the right running way and the ball ended up outside of the pitch...

Nice one-two combination by the guests just in front of the Atlético box but after a pass by Pina it was Cani who hit the ball not really well and missed the target...

The next change is prepared by the home team. Head coach Diego Simeone is not happy at all with the way his team plays, especially in the second half.

Through ball to the right for Perbet who struggles to reach the ball and when he does so at the endline, he is stopped by a correct offside call.

Perbet tries it with a volley shot from about 25 metres distance that misses the target by about 10 metres to the left...

Tiago is going to enter the game soon. Last preparations are made in front of the Atlético bench.

A distance shot by the guests is blocked by a defender before the situation is stopped because of an offside call.

Guest goalkeeper Asenjo leaves his net to clear a long ball in front of his own box, well done.

Filipe Luis with a pass from the left wing finds David Villa on the left side of the Villarreal box who then tries it with a curler into the right bottom corner. The ball was easily stopped by Asenjo but it finally was a real shot on target in this half.

In these first minutes of the second half there is only one team playing – Villarreal – but Atlético play very calm in defense and avoid any scoring opportunities.

Corner by Trigueros from the right side, into the back of his own team mates...

Pina tries it with a direct shot after receiving a pass from the left towards the border of the Atlético box but he doesn't hit the ball well and the situation ends without any danger.

Diego Godín with a hard tackle from the side against Mario inside the penalty area but the referee signals "no foul".

Courtois under pressure of a forward after waiting too long with his clearing attempt but he gets the ball past the opponent.

Harmless long ball by the guests from close to the center line into the nowhere despitehaving players on the left and right wing waiting alone.

The same 22 players returned to the pitch who played in the first half – no changes yet.

Long ball for David Villa who stops it close to the endline but he is not able to do more than avoid a corner and give Villarreal a throw in instead. Still the fans applaud for the effort in a rather eventless game.

Neither the following free kick cross didn't lead to any danger in front of the goal nor the corner from the right side that Atlético earned in this situation.

Diego Godín clears at cost of a corner after a cross from the left wing but Villarreal fail to use their standard situations.

Raúl García with great ball controll, gives it to Juanfran but the following cross from the right half field goes into the gloves of Asenjo.

Free kick cross by Koke from about 32 metres distance towards the six-yard box but a defender clears the situation with a header into the gloves of his goalkeeper.

Atlético try to invest a little more but they don't find a hole in the guest defense. A very long ball gives Villarreal the ball back.

A weak pass to the left wing by the guests ends with a throw in for Atlético inside the Villarreal half.

After a fast combination by the guests a shot from about 20 metres distance is blocked by a defender and the chance is gone already...

David Villa isn't able to controll a long cross and the ball leaves the pitch for another Villarreal goal kick.

A long ball by the hosts is way too long for any team mate and the situation ends with a goal kick.

Cani with a nice pass for Perbet from close to the penalty point towards the left side of the Atlético six-yard box but a defender clears the ball with a sliding tackle and also the rebound is stopped without much trouble by the hosts.

A cross by Koke from the right outside lane for Raúl García is cleared with a header by a defender.

After a through ball for Perbet on the right wing, it is Atlético defender Alderweireld who stops him brilliantly.

Unnecessary foul by Koke against Cani from the side deep inside the VIllarreal half but no card is shown.

After a corner from the left side it was gust goalkeeper Asenjo who blocked the ball to the side to avoid any damage.

After a hard entry with both legs first inside their own half, Villarreal's Bruno receives a last warning by the referee.

Villarreal are preparing their attacks painfully slow with the aim to avoid any mistakes while Atlético are in the luxury position that they can wait for counters in their own stadium after scoring the early goal.

Juanfran intercepts a long pass by the guests and leaves two opponents behind in the following dribbling before earning a throw in inside the own half. Good job by the Atlético defender.

A distance shot by Villarreal defender Mario from about 25 metres is deflected by Filipe Luis towards the middle of the net and then ends up in the gloves of Courtois.

A harmless long cross by the hosts is caught easily by guest goalkeeper Asenjo.

Of course the goal was also helpful for the atmosphere in the stadium and the fans are waking up.

Villarreal are not shocked at all and keep their early forechecking which they start close to the Atlético area already.

So far the game is not really at a high level. There wasn't a shot on target yet. Both sides misses the goal once significantly and had a corner each.

The following free kick from just in front of the right side of the Atlético box, executed by Bruno towards the left top corner, goes wide significantly. Not a good try at all.

Foul by Raúl García against Pina just in front of the Atlético box but no card is shown.

A cross from the left wing towards the second post is a bit too long for Atlético's Juanfran who made it all the way to the Villarreal box.

Two Atlético crosses find no team mate inside the Villarreal box and the situation is easily cleared by the guests.

Long cross by guest defender Jokic from the left outside lane but the ball goes straight into the gloves of Courtois.

Villarreal have won 7 of their away games this season and they also don't hide today. Whoever expected a defensive game by the team from the Valencia region, is proofed wrong by now.

First corner for Atlético. Koke with the cross from the left wing and Brazilian midfielder Diego tries it with a dropkick from close to the area that goes over the crossbar.

The next offensive action by the "submarinos" but a defender intercepts the through ball.

The corner is easily cleared by the home defense.

Villarreal start aggressively and Atlético defender Alderweireld clears a flat cross at cost of the first corner of the game.

Starting lineups:

Atlético Madrid: Courtois – F. Luis, Godín, Alderweireld, Juanfran – Koke, M. Suárez – C. Rodríguez, Diego – Villa, R. García
Subs: Aranzubia, Miranda, Insúa, Sosa, Tiago, Adrián, Sáiz

Villarreal CF: Asenjo – Jokic, Pantic, Gabriel, Mario – Cani, Bruno, Pina, Trigueros – Perbet, J. Román
Subs: J. Carlos, D. Jiménez, Blázquez, M. Gómez, Nahuel, Aquino, J. Pereira

Referees: Gil Manzano

Atlético today miss three of their key players. Arda Turan and star forward Diego Costa both are injured while team captain Gabi received his 5th yellow card in the last match in Bilbao. For him it's already his second sanction for yellow cards.

Atlético Madrid are the surprise of the 2013-14 La Liga campaign. They were the first team in a couple of years to become a real threat to the dominance of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid who shared all the 9 league titles since 2004. After 31 games they are leading the La Liga standings with 76 points, followed by giants Barcelona (75) and Real (73).

Most recently Atlético underlined their class with a 1-1 on the road in the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against FC Barcelona, making it an almost perfect 7-2-0 record in the current Chapions League season for them. In the league Atlético stayed unbeaten in the last six matches against Real Madrid (H, 2-2), Celta de Vigo (A, 2-0), Espanyol Barcelona (H, 1-0), Real Betis (A, 2-0), Granada CF (H, 1-0) and Athletic Bilbao (A, 2-1), recording four consecutive games without receiving a goal.

Guests Villarreal CF are having an excellent first year after returning from Segunda División in the Summer of 2013. Currently the team is 7th in La Liga with 49 points in 31 games, just one point behind 5th placed Sevilla FC and seven points behind Athletic Bilbao who hold the Champions League Quaflication spot. Most recently Villarreal struggled a bit though with just one win in their last six matches against Real Betis (H, 1-1), Granada CF (A, 0-2), Athletic Bilbao (H, 1-1), Valencia CF (A, 1-2), Getafe CF (A, 1-0) and Elche CF (1-1), having problems especially with the teams from the lower regions of the standings.

When both teams met in Villarreal in November for the first time in this season, the result was a 1-1. A close game can be expected also today with Atlético being in the role as the favourites.

Welcome. Game starts at 16:00 CET.