La Liga | Gameweek 29

Mar 29, 2025 at 3.15pm UK

RCDE Stadium

Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid

Match preview

Espanyol have won seven, drawn seven and lost 13 of their 27 La Liga games this term, picking up 28 points to leave them in 15th place, just one point above the relegation zone.

The Catalans were beaten 2-1 by Mallorca before the international break, but they had taken five points from their previous three games and there have been many positive signs in recent weeks.

In fact, Manolo Gonzalez's men are unbeaten in their last eight league games in front of their own supporters, a run that includes a win over Real Madrid, while they held high-flying Athletic Bilbao to a draw in the middle of last month.

The White and Blues secured their return to La Liga through the Segunda Division play-offs last season, so avoiding relegation was always going to be their main objective this term, with any place above 18th being considered a success.

Espanyol have held Atletico to a draw in their last three league meetings, including a 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture at the Wanda Metropolitano earlier this season.

Atletico's campaign is in real danger of unravelling, with the capital giants losing precious ground in the La Liga title race, while they were knocked out of the Champions League by Real Madrid in the round of 16.

The Red and Whites beat Real Madrid 1-0 in the second leg to level the tie 2-2 on aggregate, but Los Blancos triumphed on penalties and Simeone's side were then beaten 4-2 at home by Barcelona in the league last weekend.

Atletico were unbelievably 2-0 up going into the final 20 minutes at the Wanda Metropolitano, only to concede four goals in a league defeat that followed a 2-1 loss to Getafe on 9 March.

The capital side currently sit third in La Liga, four points behind leaders Barcelona, but the gap could be as much as seven points on Thursday night when Hansi Flick's side host Osasuna.

Atletico host Barcelona in the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final next week, a competition that has taken on added importance for the Red and Whites given their recent form in La Liga and the Champions League.

Recent Performance

Espanyol La Liga form:WLDWDL

Atletico Madrid La Liga form:DDWWLL

Atletico Madrid form (all competitions):DWLLLL

Team News

Espanyol will welcome Pol Lozano back into their squad this weekend, with the midfielder available after serving a suspension.

However, Fernando Pacheco, Jose Gragera, Pablo Ramon and Alvaro Tejero remain unavailable due to fitness problems.

Lozano is set to return to midfield this weekend, but otherwise it could be the same side that kicked off against Mallorca last time out, with Alex Kral joining Roberto Fernandez in the final third.

For Atletico, Angel Correa remains suspended and Koke is a doubt with a muscular problem, but the visitors are otherwise in good shape for this weekend's clash with Espanyol.

Simeone is likely to make changes to the side that faced Barcelona before the international break, with Conor Gallagher, Nahuel Molina, Javi Galan and Jose Gimenez all in contention.

Julian Alvarez has been in fine form for Atletico in the 2014/2015 season, scoring 23 times and providing five assists in 44 appearances, and the Argentina international will again have a place in the final third of the pitch.

Possible starting lineup

Espanyol possible starting lineup:

J Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Carreras, Lozano, Gonzalez, J Puado; Kral, Fernandez

Atletico Madrid possible starting lineup:

Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Gimenez, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann