Villarreal vs Atalanta Predictions

• Villarreal won all seven of their home games en route to lifting last season’s UEFA Europa League.
• Atalanta have been poor on their last two domestic outings, drawing 0-0 with Bologna and losing 2-1 at home to Fiorentina.

Hosts to end decade long absence with a win

Villarreal and Atalanta will likely battle things out for second spot in Group F behind favourites Manchester United, and the Spaniards can draw first blood on la Dea at Estadio de la Ceramica on Matchday 1.

While Atalanta ready themselves for a third straight UEFA Champions League campaign, Villarreal prepare to embark on their first Group Stage outing since 2011/12, but there’s reason to believe that Unai Emery’s squad can overcome their lack of experience at Europe’s top table.

The Yellow Submarine were crowned UEFA Europa League champions last term after edging out Manchester United in the showpiece, and they’ve quickly established a reputation for being a well-drilled and streetwise side who are extremely difficult to play through and break down.

They posted a flawless seven wins from seven at la Ceramica en route to their Europa League success, beating the likes of Arsenal and Dynamo Kiev along the way, and they could well have too much nous here for an all out attacking Atalanta team who have been poor in their last two domestic starts.

After a disappointing 0-0 draw with Bologna, Gian Piero Gasperini’s men were significantly under par when turned over 2-1 by Fiorentina at the weekend, and things just haven’t really clicked for the Italians so far this season.

Villarreal have started their league campaign with three consecutive draws, though that included a fine 2-2 away at champions Atletico Madrid last time out. Emery’s charges will be the fresher of the two sides here having seen their weekend La Liga fixture postponed, and they can frustrate and nullify la Dea at la Ceramica.

We’re backing the Spaniards to make a winning return to the competition,  and 2-1 is our correct score prediction for what could prove to be a pivotal early Group F encounter.