Diego Simeone used Saturday to test a possible starting lineup as Atlético de Madrid prepare for Sunday evening’s home match against Villarreal at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano.
The main development was the coach’s look at a setup featuring Álex Grimaldo and Marcos Llorente as full-backs, with Morten Hjulmand also part of the lineup discussion ahead of Atlético Madrid Vs Villarreal. The move suggests Simeone is still weighing his best options as the 2026/27 LaLiga campaign gets going and availability remains a work in progress.
Atlético are still waiting on internationals to get fit, and the situation is made more complicated by delayed transfers, FIFA World Cup participation and a congested start to the season. That means the team that beat newly-promoted Málaga with two late goals on Wednesday may not be the final version Simeone wants for a tougher test against Villarreal.
There is also some recent history to consider. Atlético lost their last meeting with Villarreal 5-1 at La Cerámica in the 2025/26 season, so Sunday’s match carries a little extra weight even this early in the year. Villarreal opened their own season with an entertaining draw at Racing Santander, while Atlético began with a win over Málaga.
For Simeone, the key question is not just who starts, but who is ready to handle the full demand of the match. The lineup trial on Saturday points to a coach still searching for the right balance between fitness, structure and continuity before a demanding early-season fixture.
