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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
1Atletico MadridAtletico18125133122141
2Real Madrid18124241182340
3Barcelona19122551222938
4Athletic Bilbao19106329171236
5Villarreal188643430430
6Mallorca199371921-230
7Real Sociedad187471613325
8GironaGirona187472625125
9Real BetisBetis186752122-125
10Osasuna186752327-425
11Celta Vigo187382728-124
12Rayo Vallecano185762021-122
13Las PalmasLas Palmas186482327-422
14Sevilla186482027-722
15Leganes184681728-1118
16AlavesAlaves184592130-917
17Getafe183781115-416
18Espanyol1843111630-1415
19Valencia172691626-1012
20Real ValladolidValladolid1833121237-2512


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