When Atletico Madrid faces Espanyol at the Metropolitano Stadium, we’re in for an interesting matchup, especially with how these two teams have started the season. Atletico is riding high with an unbeaten streak, while Espanyol, on the other hand, hasn’t had the best start, losing both of their opening games.
If you’ve been following Atletico, you probably remember their first game against Villarreal, where all the action happened in the first half, ending in a 2-2 draw. But they really turned things around in their first home game, comfortably beating Girona 3-0, thanks to Griezmann, Llorente, and Koke.
Espanyol, though, hasn’t found their rhythm yet. They returned to La Liga only to face two 1-0 losses against Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad. It’s been a rough re-entry for them, and heading into this match, it doesn’t get any easier.
Historical Context and Current Form
Now, looking back at the history between these two teams, they’ve clashed a whopping 183 times in various competitions. Atletico has had the upper hand with 96 wins, while Espanyol has managed to win 53 times, and 34 matches have ended in a draw. Atletico also boasts an impressive record, having scored the most goals against Espanyol in La Liga compared to any other team.
Atletico seems to love playing at home, especially lately, with nine wins out of their last eleven home games. Espanyol, on the other hand, has been struggling on the road, winning only once in their last nine away matches. It’s also worth noting that the visitors have yet to score in La Liga this season.
When it comes to predictions, I’d say Atletico looks like the clear favorite. They have consistently performed well at home and aim to maintain that momentum with a strong squad, including Clement Lenglet. Espanyol, still searching for their first goal, may struggle to break through Atletico’s defense.
