Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
Espanyol
Atletico Madrid
On Sunday, March 29, the 29th round of La Liga will feature a match between Espanyol and Atletico Madrid. The game is set to kick off at 16:15 Central European Time, and I have a bet suggestion for the winner of this encounter.
Espanyol – Atletico: match facts and head-to-heads
- Espanyol has won only one of their last five matches.
- Atletico has also secured just one victory in their last four games, suffering three defeats.
- Espanyol is unbeaten at home for eight consecutive matches: three wins and five draws.
- Atletico has lost their last two away matches. In five away games, the team has won only once.
- Espanyol has scored at least one goal in nine consecutive matches, while Atletico has scored in 14.
- Atletico Madrid boasts the best defense in La Liga, conceding only 22 goals.
- Atletico has won 41% of their matches this season with a clean sheet, compared to Espanyol's 10%.
- Espanyol has lost 24% of their matches without scoring, while Atletico only 7%.
- The first head-to-head meeting between these teams this season ended in a goalless draw. Three of their last five encounters ended in draws, with Atletico winning the other two.
Espanyol – Atletico: match preview
Espanyol is situated in the lower part of the table, and their main goal is to maintain their La Liga status. After 27 rounds, the team has 28 points and is just one point clear of the relegation zone, so a tough battle lies ahead. In the last round, the Catalans lost away to Mallorca (1-2), but they haven't lost at home for eight consecutive matches.
Atletico Madrid remains one of the favorites in the title race. Currently, "Los Colchoneros" are in third place in the table, with 56 points after 28 rounds. They trail the leader by seven points. Notably, Atletico showcases the best defense in the Spanish championship, conceding only 22 goals. However, their recent results have been disappointing: three losses in the last four rounds, including one defeat in the Champions League.
Probable lineups
- Espanyol: J. Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Carreras, Lozano, Gonzalez, J. Puado; Kral, Fernandez
- Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Molina, Le Normand, Jimenez, Galan; Simeone, De Paul, Barrios, Gallagher; Alvarez, Griezmann
Prediction
Atletico is already out of the Champions League, allowing the team to fully focus on the league. Despite Espanyol's impressive home streak, I believe "Los Colchoneros" will secure the victory. My bet is on an Atletico win with odds of 1.6.
