Atleticovs.Espanyol

The newly-promoted visitors are waiting to get off the mark after beginning the campaign with back-to-back defeats.

Match preview

Atletico Madrid may have aspirations of mounting a serious title challenge after making several notable additions in the summer transfer window.

Robin Le Normand and Conor Gallagher have strengthened the defence and midfield respectively, while Julian Alvarez and Alexander Sorloth have been recruited to bolster Diego Simeone's forward options.

Having bolstered their squad, Atleti have made an encouraging start to the new season, collecting four points from their opening two matches.

They came from behind on two occasions to take a point off Villarreal at the Estadio de la Ceramica, before they produced a dominant home display in Sunday's game against Girona, with Antoine Griezmann, Marcos Llorente and Koke getting on the scoresheet in a 3-0 victory.

Atleti will now turn their focus to their first meeting with Espanyol since being involved in an entertaining 3-3 draw in May 2023, and they will be looking to extend their unbeaten run in head-to-head meetings to six matches.

Espanyol spent just one season in the second tier after they won the Segunda Division playoffs to return to La Liga at the first time of asking.

Unfortunately for the Periquitos, they have entered the season without the services of last season's Segunda Division top scorer Martin Braithwaite, who departed upon the expiry of his contract before signing for Gremio on a free transfer.

Braithwaite's absence has been evident in Espanyol's first two matches, with the newly-promoted side struggling to offer a real goal threat in consecutive 1-0 defeats.

They fell to a narrow loss in their opening game against fellow newly-promoted side Real Valladolid, before Real Sociedad's Take Kubo scored an 80th-minute winner to condemn Espanyil to defeat in their first home game of the season.

Manolo Gonzalez's side have their work cut out to claim their first points of the season in Wednesday's trip to the Metropolitano, but they may be able to draw some inspiration from the fact they played out a 1-1 draw in their most recent away meeting with Atleti in November 2022.

Atletico Madrid La Liga form:

a href="/football/la-liga/villarreal-vs-atletico-madrid_game_199878.html" title="Villarreal 2 - 2 Atletico">D

W

Espanyol La Liga form:

L

L

Team News

Atletico have reported no fresh injury concerns, ensuring Simeone will have the majority of his squad available for Wednesday's home fixture.

The Atletico boss may take the opportunity to freshen up his side, with Alex Witsel, Nahuel Molina, Koke and Alexander Sorloth among those who could be considered for starting berths.

Gallagher is also pushing to make his first start after making his Atletico debut as a substitute at the weekend.

Recent arrival Clement Lenglet could feature in the matchday squad after completing a loan switch from Catalan giants Barcelona.

Meanwhile, Espanyol midfielder Edu Exposito is continuing to work on his rehabilitation from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Leandro Cabrera was forced to withdraw from Monday's training session due to a physical issue, and the experienced defender will have to be assessed ahead of Wednesday's away trip.

Sergi Gomez could be brought into the centre of the Espanyol defence if Cabrera is unable to prove his fitness in time.

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Gimenez, Witsel, Le Normand; Llorente, Gallagher, Koke, Lino; Griezmann, Alvarez; Sorloth

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

Garcia; Tejero, El Hilali, Kumbulla, Gomez; Romero; Kral, Gragera, Milla; Veliz, Puado

We say: Atletico Madrid 2-0 Espanyol

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