Atletico Madrid vs. Espanyol: A Tactical Battle Looms

Atletico Madrid welcomes Espanyol to the Metropolitano on Saturday, seeking to revitalize their LaLiga campaigns. Atletico, currently fourth, faces a challenge from sixth-placed Espanyol. A unique dynamic in this fixture is Espanyol manager Manolo González's unbeaten record against Diego Simeone across three previous encounters.

Atletico Madrid grapples with several absences. Nicolas Gonzalez is sidelined, Pablo Barrios continues his recovery, and Rodrigo Mendoza is suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. However, Alex Baena and Jose Maria Gimenez have returned to full fitness. Manager Diego Simeone highlighted the impact of these personnel issues earlier this month.

Espanyol also contends with injuries, notably their captain Javier Puado being out for the season and Fernando Calero unavailable until early March 2026. Despite these setbacks, their leading scorer, Pere Milla, with six goals this season, will be a key offensive threat.

Both teams are experiencing a turbulent period. Atletico Madrid's recent form shows inconsistency, including a significant Copa del Rey win followed by a heavy league defeat and a draw in the Champions League playoff. Espanyol, conversely, is enduring their worst run, failing to win in 2026 and collecting only one point from their last five fixtures. Their last match on February 14th ended in a 2-2 draw.