Villarreal challenge the leader

Club Atlético de Madrid host Villarreal CF on matchday 32 of the Liga BBVA. The championship leader, with 76 points, is looking to stay ahead of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid CF, while the Yellows are bidding to get back into the tussle for the European spots.

The Vicente Calderón Stadium will be hoping to witness another victory from its team, which has recorded five wins in its last five matches. Even so, its coach, Diego Simeone, is aware of the danger posed by his opponents: "Saturday is an important match, it is a tough opponent, their system is similar to ours and we have to give them a lot of respect". The injured Diego Costa, Arda Turan and João Miranda and the suspended Gabi will all miss what is sure to be a close match. The good news for the Argentinian coach is the return of Raúl García.

Villarreal's manager, Marcelino García Toral, also referred to Saturday’s match as "a very competitive tie". "They are the first 90 minutes of the seven finals left to achieve the prize for which these players have worked so hard", stated the man from Asturias. Mateo Musacchio, José Antonio Dorado, Pablo Íñiguez, Giovani dos Santos and Ikechukwu Uche will all miss the game through injury. In addition, Jaume Costa will be absent due to his fifth yellow card.