Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 Spanish Primera
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New look and big spending Atletico Madrid have once again started in an impressive and entertaining fashion as they welcome newly-promoted Espanyol back to the capital city this week.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Wednesday 28th August, 2024 - UK – 8:30pm / US ET – 3:30pm / US PT – 12:30pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Atletico Madrid vs Espanyol may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
ATLETICO MADRID PREVIEW: THE EVOLUTION OF LOS ROJIBLANCOS
Last season, Diego Simeone tried to adapt his style of football away from so-called ‘Cholismo’ to something a little more front foot and attacking or at least more enjoyable to watch. Well, this summer’s arrivals of Conor Gallagher, Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth, as well as Robin Le Normand, suggest that evolution should continue.
Los Rojiblancos began their campaign with a 2-2 draw against Villarreal at El Madrigal on the opening day of the season with all four goals in that game coming in the first-half. They then welcomed a Girona side that finished above them last season to the Metropolitano and ran out as comfortable 3-0 winners.
ESPANYOL PREVIEW: ADAPTING TO MANOLO GONZALEZ
Last season, Luis Garcia led Espanyol back to the top-flight but he then departed the club to become Tintin Marquez’ assistant coach with the Qatari national team. He has been replaced by B team coach Manolo Gonzalez and the Catalans have struggled at the start of this season with some teething issues.
The 2023/24 Segunda playoff winners are one of two teams, alongside Valencia, to have started the campaign with back-to-back defeats. They started with a 1-0 loss at fellow newly-promoted side Real Valladolid before then suffering a 1-0 defeat to Real Sociedad at the weekend at the RCDE Stadium.
ATLETICO MADRID TEAM NEWS: BEDDING PLAYERS IN
Diego Simeone has been reluctant to throw players in at the start of their careers at Atletico Madrid with Conor Gallagher coming off the bench in the 58th minute against Girona, for example.
However, it could well be that the Argentinian coach decides to make some changes and opt for a bit of rotation this week with the already jam-packed La Liga fixture list.
PREDICTED XI (3-5-2): Oblak; Cesar Azpilicueta, Jose Maria Gimenez, Le Normand; Marcos Llorente, De Paul, Pablo Barrios, Gallagher, Rodrigo Riquelme; Griezmann, Julian Alvarez
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
ESPANYOL TEAM NEWS: EDU EXPOSITO FRUSTRATION
With Espanyol playing a back three under Luis Garcia, Manolo Gonzalez has continued with that system despite him preferring to play a 4-3-3 system whilst in charge of the B team.
In the current 3-5-2 system, there is a lot of importance on the midfield three to offer some sort of threat going forward and Edu Exposito is crucial to that but he has now suffered what appears to be an injury that will keep him out for a while.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Joan Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Jofre Carreras, Kral, Jose Gragera, Cardona; Veliz, Javi Puado
UNAVAILABLE: Edu Exposito (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
ATLETICO MADRID VS ESPANYOL PREDICTION
This has the chance to be a really one-sided affair. The depth of attacking options that Atletico now have is very promising with the ability to play two genuinely attacking wing-backs in the form of Marcos Llorente and Rodrigo Riquelme. Espanyol look to be a very weak side for La Liga and are already emerging as one of the favourites to be relegated this season. Atletico should win and should win quite comfortably at the Metropolitano this week.
ATLETICO MADRID VS ESPANYOL TIP: ATLETICO MADRID TO WIN -1 HANDICAP
