Atletico vs Espanyol – News and Probable Lineups

Atletico Madrid will seek to prevent a third consecutive loss in Spain’s top division when they return to action at home against Espanyol on Saturday.

Currently, Diego Simeone’s team sits in fourth place on the La Liga table, only three points behind Villarreal in third, while Espanyol occupies sixth place, trailing their weekend rivals by ten points.

Match overview

Atletico participated in Champions League play on Wednesday, drawing 3-3 against Club Brugge in the first leg of their knockout round playoff in Belgium, which followed back-to-back league defeats to Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano.

Simeone’s side was defeated 3-0 by Rayo Vallecano in their last league outing, leaving them fourth, just three points behind Villarreal.

The Red and Whites maintain a narrow four-point lead over fifth-placed Real Betis in the race for Champions League qualification next season, having secured victory in just one of their past four matches across all competitions.

The single win was a resounding 4-0 triumph over Barcelona in the first leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final, putting Atletico in a strong position to reach the competition’s final.

This season, Simeone’s team has demonstrated solid form at home, amassing 31 points from 12 games with a record of 10 wins, one draw, and one loss.

On the other hand, Espanyol is experiencing a successful domestic season, sitting sixth with a record of 10 wins, five draws, and nine losses from their 24 matches, which has garnered them 35 points.

However, the Catalan side is only one point ahead of seventh-placed Celta Vigo, indicating that they are currently struggling with form.

Indeed, Manolo Gonzalez’s squad has not secured a win since the closure of the 2025 season, earning merely two points from their seven league fixtures in 2026.

Espanyol will head into this match following a 2-2 draw against Celta, but their latest away encounter ended in a disappointing 4-1 defeat to Villarreal on February 9.

The White and Blues are aiming to achieve a La Liga double over Atletico this season, having previously beaten them 2-1 in their last meeting back in August 2025.

Atletico Madrid La Liga form:

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Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):

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Spanish La Liga form:

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Team News

Atletico will be without Nico Gonzalez due to a muscle injury, while Pablo Barrios will miss out until the start of next month due to injury.

Rodrigo Mendoza is also unavailable for selection after receiving a notable booking in the team’s recent defeat to Rayo Vallecano.

Changes are anticipated from the lineup that faced Club Brugge in the Champions League, with Clement Lenglet and Jose Gimenez possibly reinstated in defense, and Alex Baena expected to join the starting XI as well.

For Espanyol, they will continue to be without the long-term injured player Javi Puado.

Fernando Calero’s status is uncertain, but the visitors are otherwise in solid form, meaning head coach Gonzalez has several significant decisions to make regarding the lineup.

Kike Garcia’s goal as a substitute against Celta could lead to the seasoned forward being included in the starting lineup, while Tyrhys Dolan might also be brought in for the same reason.

Atletico Madrid probable starting XI:

Clouds; Llorente, Lenglet, Gimenez, Hancko; Simeone, Koke, Cardoso, Lookman; Baena; Alvarez

Espanyol probable starting XI:

Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Riedel, Cabrera, Romero; Lozano, Zarate; Dolan, Terrats, Milla; K Garcia

In previous seasons, we might have predicted a narrow win for Atletico, possibly with a score of 1-0, but currently, the defense of the capital team is vulnerable, and we think Espanyol may be able to secure a draw on Saturday.