Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol: Prediction, Team News, and Lineups Preview

Atletico Madrid will seek to avoid a third consecutive defeat in La Liga when they host Espanyol on Saturday. Currently, Atletico sits fourth in the league, three points behind Villarreal, while Espanyol occupies the sixth spot, trailing by ten points.

Match Preview

Atletico Madrid faced Club Brugge in the Champions League recently, ending in a 3-3 draw. This match followed two back-to-back losses in La Liga against Real Betis and Rayo Vallecano. Atletico’s last league match resulted in a 3-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano, prompting concerns as they look to secure a Champions League position for next season. They are just four points ahead of fifth-placed Real Betis and have won only one of their last four matches across all competitions.

That lone victory came against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals, where they won 4-0. At home, Atletico has performed well this season, amassing 31 points from 12 matches, with an impressive record of 10 wins, one draw, and just one defeat.

Espanyol’s Current Form

Standing sixth in La Liga, Espanyol has recorded ten victories, five draws, and nine defeats out of 24 matches, totaling 35 points. However, they have struggled recently, collecting only two points from their last seven league matches in 2026. Their last outing resulted in a 2-2 draw with Celta Vigo, but they previously lost 4-1 to Villarreal on February 9. Earlier in the season, Espanyol defeated Atletico 2-1 in their previous encounter.

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Team News

Atletico Madrid will miss Nico Gonzalez due to a muscular injury, and Pablo Barrios will be sidelined until next month. Additionally, Rodrigo Mendoza is unavailable after receiving a booking in the recent match against Rayo Vallecano. Changes are expected in the starting lineup, with Clement Lenglet and Jose Gimenez likely to return.

Espanyol continues to be without long-term injured player Javi Puado. Fernando Calero is doubtful, but the rest of the squad is relatively fit. Kike Garcia may earn a starting spot after scoring in the last match against Celta, while Tyrhys Dolan might also be included in the lineup.

Possible Lineups

Match Prediction

The match is expected to end in a 1-1 draw. Atletico’s current defensive issues may prevent them from achieving a decisive victory, while Espanyol seems poised to secure an important point away from home.