Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid will kick start their La Liga campaign with an away fixture against Espanyol on Sunday.
After narrowly avoiding relegation, Espanyol will be eager to kick off the 2025/26 season with three points at home against Atletico Madrid. However, it won’t be straightforward against Diego Simeone’s side, who are aiming to mount a title challenge.
While Espanyol secured a 14th-placed finish last season, they were only two points clear of the drop zone. With just 11 wins in their 38 outings, the Catalan outfit finished the season with 42 points. The Catalan club will be looking to ensure they do not get dragged into a relegation battle yet again.
Espanyol put in impressive performances in the pre-season, and they will be hoping to back it up in the first game of the season. While taking down Atletico Madrid won’t be easy, a win here could be a massive boost for the rest of the season.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid secured a third-place finish last time out with 76 points in their 38 outings. While they were in the mix for the title mid-way through the season, Diego Simeone’s team struggled to keep up with Barcelona and Real Madrid in the second half.
The Colchoneros have made significant additions to their squad this summer, and the Argentine manager will be hoping it all clicks in their first outing of the season. The Hard Tackle takes a close look at both teams and tries to predict the tactics they could put to use.
Team News & Tactics
RCD Espanyol
The home team will be without the services of Javi Hernandez because of an injury. Apart from the 21-year-old midfielder, everyone else should be available for selection for Espanyol against .
The home side will line up in a 4-4-2 formation, where Marko Dmitrovic will be in goal. Omar El Hilali and Carlos Romero should feature as the full-backs, while Leandro Cabrera will partner with Miguel Rubio in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, Ruben Sanchez and Antoniu Roca will feature out wide on the flanks. Pol Lozano will partner with Edu Exposito in a more central role. They will look to shield the backline and ensure the Atletico Madrid midfielders do not dominate the proceedings. Finally, Roberto Fernandez will partner with Javi Puado in the strike partnership.
Probable Lineup (4-4-2): Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Cabrera, Rubio, Romero; Sanchez, Lozano, Exposito, Roca; Fernandez, Puado
Atletico Madrid
Diego Simeone’s team have made as many as nine signings this summer (including Clement Lenglet’s permanent switch from Barcelona) in an attempt to reinforce their squad and push for the league title.
Jose Gimenez is a doubt for this fixture because of a muscular problem. Apart from the veteran Uruguayan defender, the Atletico Madrid manager is expected to have a fully fit squad at his disposal against Espanyol on Sunday.
Simeone could make a significant tactical change. He could switch from the traditional 4-4-2 to a 4-2-3-1 formation, and five of Atletico’s new signings could feature in the starting XI. Jan Oblak will continue in goal, while Marcos Llorente and Matteo Ruggeri could be the full-backs. Robin Le Normand should partner with David Hancko in the heart of the defence.
In the centre of the park, former Real Betis star Johnny Cardoso could form the double pivot alongside Pablo Barrios. The duo will shield the backline and look to control the tempo of the game.
Giuliano Simeone and Thiago Almada could feature on the flanks, while Alex Baena could take up the number ten role. Julian Alvarez should be the one leading the line after having done wonders for them in his debut campaign.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Oblak; Llorente, Le Normand, Hancko, Ruggeri; Barrios, Cardoso; Simeone, Baena, Almada; Alvarez
Key Stats
- Espanyol finished 14th last season, just two points clear of the drop zone.
- Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid secured a third-placed finish, 12 points behind champions Barcelona.
- For the first time since 2023, Espanyol will be featuring in back-to-back seasons in the top flight.
- Both Espanyol and Atletico Madrid have signed nine players this summer.
- The home team have won four out of their six pre-season games.
Player to Watch
Julian Alvarez
The 25-year-old Argentine forward is expected to be an undisputed starter for Atletico this season after having done wonders for them last time out. In his debut campaign, Alvarez was involved in a total of 57 matches across competitions and finished with 29 goals and eight assists.
Simeone will be counting on the World Cup winner to get Atletico Madrid off to a winning start against Espanyol, and with Antoine Griezmann likely to be on the bench, Alvarez will be under pressure to deliver.
Prediction
RCD Espanyol 1-3 Atletico Madrid
Espanyol will look to build on their encouraging pre-season form, but they face a daunting task against one of La Liga’s heavyweights in Atletico Madrid. While the Catalan outfit have strengthened their squad with nine new arrivals, it might take time for Manolo Gonzalez’s men to fully gel.
Their struggles from last season suggest they could find it difficult to cope with Atletico’s intensity, even with the backing of the home crowd. Atletico Madrid, meanwhile, appear well-equipped to begin their campaign with a statement victory over Espanyol.
Diego Simeone’s men boast a refreshed squad with quality additions across the pitch, and the presence of Julian Alvarez up top gives them a lethal edge. With their defensive structure still solid and plenty of creativity in attack, the visitors should have enough to break down Espanyol and get their title push off to the perfect start. The Hard Tackle predicts a 3-1 win for Diego Simeone and his charges.
