Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid: Preview, Head-to-Head Stats as Diego Simeone Starts New Season

Espanyol begin the 2025/2026 LaLiga season at home against Atletico Madrid, aiming to channel the momentum from an encouraging pre-season campaign.

The Catalan side remained unbeaten across five friendlies, collecting three victories and two draws. Recent highlights include a spirited 2:2 draw with Newcastle United and successive away wins against Wolfsburg and Union Berlin.

Last season’s struggles remain fresh in memory, with Espanyol only securing survival on the final day with a crucial win over Las Palmas. Yet this year brings renewed optimism.

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Coach Manolo González will expect his side to showcase the defensive discipline and attacking bite that kept them unbeaten in summer tests.

Central to their hopes is Javier Puado, the homegrown forward who has scored 23 LaLiga goals for the club and is closing in on a milestone 25. With his eye for goals in big games, Puado represents Espanyol’s most potent threat.

Atletico Madrid arrive at the RCDE Stadium looking to make a statement after finishing third last season, eight points behind city rivals Real Madrid.

Their last league title came in 2021, and coach Diego Simeone has stressed the need for constant evolution to remain among Spain’s elite.

The 2025/2026 campaign is his 15th consecutive season at the helm, a remarkable record only bettered by a handful of LaLiga greats.

Pre-season preparation delivered mixed outcomes. The highlight came in a clinical 2:0 victory away at Newcastle United, but losses to Porto and Paris Saint-Germain raised concerns about consistency.

However, Atletico’s transfer activity signals ambition. The arrivals of Alex Baena, Thiago Almada, David Hancko, and Johnny Cardozo add freshness and competition across the pitch.

Baena, in particular, has drawn Simeone’s attention, with suggestions he could be deployed as a second striker rather than a winger. If he adapts quickly, Atletico may benefit from a sharper attacking edge.

Up front, Alexander Sorloth remains a key figure. Despite often starting from the bench last season, the Norwegian striker netted 20 goals, including a record 12 as a substitute in a single LaLiga campaign this century.

The history between Espanyol and Atletico Madrid suggests Sunday night’s clash is likely to be closely fought. Their last five league meetings have produced three draws and just one win for Atletico, underlining Espanyol’s capacity to frustrate their more illustrious opponents.

The most recent encounter in March ended 1:1, with Puado scoring from the spot before Cesar Azpilicueta equalized. Prior to that, stalemates in August 2024 and May 2023, including a dramatic 3:3 thriller, highlighted how little separates these sides.

Atletico’s superior squad depth and attacking firepower make them favorites, but Espanyol’s form and home advantage cannot be underestimated.

The RCDE Stadium has often been the backdrop for intense battles between the two clubs, and with both teams starting from zero points, motivation will be sky-high.

For Simeone, victory would set the tone for another title push, while for Espanyol, an upset win could ignite dreams of a stronger campaign that edges closer to European places.