Atlético de Madrid 2-2 Villarreal: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
La Liga Matchday 2 · Sunday 23 August 2026 · Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Madrid · referee A. Hernández Hernández · full time
Full time: Atlético de Madrid 2-2 Villarreal
Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal drew 2-2 in La Liga Matchday 2 on Sunday 23 August 2026 at Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The goals: Marc Pubill 59', Gerard Moreno 66', Georges Mikautadze 78', Giuliano Simeone 85'.
How the match unfolded
Atlético de Madrid struck first through Marc Pubill in the 59th minute, set up by Giuliano Simeone. Villarreal levelled at 1-1 in the 66th minute through Gerard Moreno from the penalty spot. Villarreal turned it round: Georges Mikautadze from the penalty spot made it 1-2 in the 78th minute. Atlético de Madrid levelled at 2-2 in the 85th minute through Giuliano Simeone, set up by Álex Baena. It came with the clock nearly run down, and it rescued a point.
It was 0-0 at half-time.
The lead changed hands once.
Robin Le Normand of Atlético de Madrid was sent off in the 76th minute. The referee, A. Hernández Hernández, showed 6 yellow cards: 4 to Atlético de Madrid and 2 to Villarreal.
Atlético de Madrid: D. Simeone, 4-4-2 · Villarreal: I. Pérez Soto, 4-4-2.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 3.16 for Atlético de Madrid and 1.14 for Villarreal.
Atlético de Madrid scored about 1.2 fewer than their chances were worth: poor finishing, or a goalkeeper at his best.
Atlético de Madrid created the better chances, 3.16 xG to 1.14, and still did not win. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Atlético de Madrid had 4 shots on target, Villarreal 6.
Atlético de Madrid had 52% of the ball.
A red card changed the shape of the match, and no pre-match model can see one coming.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Atlético de Madrid came into it with 7 La Liga matches played, scoring 2.3 and conceding 1.0 a match, with 1.72 expected goals for and 1.05 against, and had won 71% of their matches.
Villarreal came into it with 7 La Liga matches played, scoring 1.9 and conceding 1.7 a match, with 2.28 expected goals for and 1.34 against, and had won 29% of their matches.
Atlético de Madrid vs Villarreal: the match in numbers
| Atlético de Madrid | Match statistics | Villarreal |
|---|---|---|
| 52% | Ball possession | 48% |
| 3.16 | Expected goals (xG) | 1.14 |
| 19 | Total shots | 13 |
| 4 | Shots on target | 6 |
| 1 | Big chances | 6 |
| 520 | Total passes | 498 |
| 88% | Pass accuracy | 88% |
| 5 | Corners | 3 |
| 12 | Fouls | 13 |
| 3 | Offsides | 1 |
| 26 | Tackles | 11 |
| 4 | Saves | 2 |
| 3 | Yellow cards | 2 |
| 1 | Red cards | 0 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid), rated 8.1 by Sportmonks, with 1 goal, 1 assist.
Atlético de Madrid
- Giuliano Simeone 8.1 1 goal, 1 assist
- Morten Hjulmand 7.4
- Koke 7.3
- Alejandro Grimaldo 7.3
- Kang-in Lee 7.2
Villarreal
- Renato Veiga 7.2
- Georges Mikautadze 7.1 1 goal
- Gerard Moreno 7.1
- Juan Foyth 7.1
- Nicolas Pépé 6.9
The lowest-rated starter was Robin Le Normand at 5.7. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Atlético de Madrid: Deportivo Alavés vs Atlético de Madrid Saturday 10 October 2026 · La Liga
- Villarreal: Real Madrid vs Villarreal Saturday 10 October 2026 · La Liga
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Atlético de Madrid vs Villarreal
What was the score in Atlético de Madrid vs Villarreal?
Atlético de Madrid 2-2 Villarreal (half-time 0-0), La Liga, Sunday 23 August 2026.
Who scored in Atlético de Madrid vs Villarreal?
Marc Pubill 59', Gerard Moreno 66', Georges Mikautadze 78', Giuliano Simeone 85'.
Did Moneyball predict Atlético de Madrid vs Villarreal correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Atlético de Madrid vs Villarreal?
Giuliano Simeone, rated 8.1 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Atlético de Madrid vs Villarreal?
A. Hernández Hernández.
Every match, before and after
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