Espanyol v Atletico Madrid
The relegation battle meets Champions League ambitions: Espanyol host Atletico Madrid at the RCDE Stadium. While Espanyol are in 15th place with 28 points and are desperately seeking a way out of the bottom of the table, Atletico are third in La Liga with 56 points. The Catalans have only won one of their last five matches and are level on points with Valencia. Diego Simeone’s team are looking to get back on track after a 4-2 defeat to Barcelona before the international break in order to defend their four-point lead over Athletic Club. The last meeting between the two teams ended in a 0-0 draw, which is in keeping with the generally low-scoring nature of their encounters. Espanyol will be hoping Pablo Ramón is back from his knee injury, while Atletico have resolved the future of Julián Álvarez – the Argentine has scored 23 goals and provided five assists in 44 appearances.
Espanyol – Atletico Madrid Info
- Stadium: RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat
- Date and Time: 03/29/2025, 4:15 p.m.
- Competition: La Liga (Regular Season – 29)
Espanyol Form & Record Check
Espanyol are still going through a difficult phase. They have only won one of their last five league games, and their 2-1 defeat to Mallorca recently revealed old patterns with a lack of goals before half-time and defensive gaps. Espanyol’s goal distribution is striking: in recent games, the team has rarely scored before half-time, but has scored more regularly after half-time. The 1-1 draw against Girona and the 1-1 draw against Athletic Club proved that the team is not without chances. However, there is a lack of consistency, even if the 1-0 win against Alaves can be seen as a small ray of hope. Given the ominous situation in the table, Espanyol’s main objective remains to make an early impression and take more consistent advantage of the opportunities at home in the RCDE Stadium.
Espanyol are likely to line up in a 4-4-2 formation again. Coach González is expected to field a back four of Gómez, Kumbulla, Cabrera and the recovered Ramón, who has shown good signs in training. Expósito, Lozano, González and Carreras could pull the strings in midfield, while Fernández and Král form the forward duo. The talented Omar Sadik, whose contract was recently extended until 2028, is likely to start on the bench for now. With Fernando Pacheco still out with an ankle problem, García is in goal again. Puado, Milla and Calero also remain possible alternatives for later substitutions.
Atletico Madrid Form & Record Check
Although Atletico Madrid are comfortably in third place in the table, Diego Simeone’s team have suffered a number of setbacks in recent weeks. The most recent 4-2 home defeat to Barcelona was particularly sobering, as the team lost control despite taking a 2-0 lead through Julián Álvarez and Alexander Sørloth. In addition, the Champions League exit against city rivals Real Madrid hurts, in which Atletico fought hard to win 1-0 after extra time, but ultimately lost on penalties. At least the Rojiblancos show their offensive strength and have scored at least one goal in all of their recent games. Álvarez is also being touted as a top contender for the Ballon d’Or by the Argentine media, while Conor Gallagher has not received an invitation to the English national team despite his impressive performances. To maintain their four-point lead over Athletic Club and keep the competition at arm’s length, Atletico must avoid slipping up against Espanyol.
Diego Simeone could also send Atletico out on the pitch in the proven 4-4-2. Oblak is expected to keep goal, while Giménez, Azpilicueta, Lenglet and Le Normand are expected in the back four. In midfield, Lemar, Barrios, Lino and Llorente should provide stability and creative impulses. Griezmann and Sørloth are expected to be the attacking duo, with Koke out with a muscle injury and his role in the build-up likely to be more crucial for Barrios. Gallagher is likely to be left on the bench following recent developments. A return of national players like Julián Álvarez could further shake up the starting lineup, as Simeone is known for his tactical flexibility.
Espanyol – Atletico Madrid direct comparison & statistics
The last five meetings between Espanyol and Atletico Madrid have shown a preference for draws: three matches ended in a draw, including the last duel, which ended 0-0. Atletico won the other two meetings and is therefore unbeaten in five games against Espanyol. It is worth noting that in four of those matches, both teams scored at least once and there were often more than 1.5 goals in the second half. The most high-scoring encounter took place in May 2023, when a 3-3 result provided plenty of excitement. Overall, the games tend to be close, but they promise goals on both sides – especially after the break.
