Atlético Madrid defeated Villarreal by 2-0 on matchday of the 2025/26 La Liga season at the Metropolitano Stadium on Saturday.

In the first half, Barrios volleyed home a quick counterattack, and Pépé's free kick hit the crossbar. In the second half, González scored with a header. Ultimately, Atlético Madrid defeated Villarreal 2-0. After this round of matches, having broken their winless streak, Los Colchoneros temporarily moved up to ninth place on the table with five points; El Submarino Amarillo currently sits in fourth place with seven points.

First Half

In the 9th minute, Atlético Madrid launched a deadly quick counterattack. Sergi Cardona made a huge mistake by misplacing his pass from the left wing. After successfully beating the offside trap, Julián Alvarez quickly followed up and intercepted the ball before passing horizontally from the right side of the box. Pablo Barrios quickly followed up and upon receiving the pass, volleyed the ball into the bottom right corner of the empty net with his left foot from the ceneter side of the box against the the outrushing Luiz Júnior. Atlético Madrid broke the deadlock early to take a 1-0 lead!

5 minutes later, Alvarez passes horizontally from the front. Giuliano Simeone stopped the ball, adjusted his angle, before volleying with his right foot from the right side of box, but his shot went just slightly wide of the left side of the post.

In the 15th minute, Georges Mikautadze made a through ball from the front. Alberto Moleiro quickly followed up, got the ball and dribbled into the center of the box before volleying with his right foot past the outrushing Jan Oblak, but his shot went just wide of the right side of the post.

7 minutes later, Dani Parejo passes horizontally from the right wing, Moleiro got the ball, cuts inside, and volleyed with his left foot from the center of the box, but his shot went wide of the right side of the post.

In the first minute of first-half stoppage time, Villarreal was awarded a free kick. Nicolas Pepe took the free kick and directly fired a left-footed shot from outside the penalty area, Unfortunately, his shot hit the crossbar and bounced off. Atlético Madrid missed a golden opportunity to extend their lead!

At the end of the first half, Atlético Madrid led Villarreal 1-0 going into the half-time break.

Second Half

Both teams switched sides as the match continued. In the 52nd minute, Atlético Madrid launched a deadly quick counterattack. Marcos Llorente crossed into the box from the right wing. Nico González quickly followed up and scored with a header in the box, extending Atlético Madrid's lead to 2-0! González, who is making his Atlético Madrid debut, scored his first goal for the club!

In the third minute of injury time, Atlético Madrid was awarded a free kick. Antoine Griezmann took the free kick by crossing it into the box from outside the penalty area. Marc Pubill rose high and attempted with a header in the box, however his effort was saved by Luiz Júnior.

3 minutes later, Villarreal was awarded a free kick. Parejo took the free kick by crossing it into the box from outside the penalty area. Pape Gueye rose high and attempted with a header in the the box, however his effort went wide of the right side of the post.

When the final whistle is blown, Atlético Madrid defeated Villarreal by 2-0.

◤La Liga◢ Nico González scores on debut as Atlético Madrid beats Villarreal 2-0..