Next Saturday Atlético de Madrid will face Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, and the recent history of both teams suggests that the visitor should not fear the rival. In the last five years, the two teams have played four games at the Espanyol stadium, with balanced results: one win for the blue and white, another for the red and white and two draws. Atlético's last victory in that scenario was in the 2021-22 season (1-2) and Espanyol's in the 2025-26 campaign (2-1).
In the most recent matches at the RCDE Stadium, neither team has managed to keep a clean sheet, which indicates that the matches tend to be offensive and without a clear dominator. Furthermore, Espanyol coach Manolo González has led the team against Atlético on four occasions, both at home and away, and has only suffered one defeat, 4‑2 in the 2025‑26 season. A good result this Saturday would be crucial to consolidate the credibility of the blue and white coach, whose performance has been questioned in recent days, although the locker room has publicly shown its support.
From Atlético's perspective, Argentine coach Diego Pablo Simeone has faced Espanyol 25 times, with thirteen wins, seven draws and five losses. After its last victory in the 2021-22 season, Atlético has only triumphed once, in the 2025-26 campaign. Despite these data, Atlético remains one of the strongest teams in LaLiga, occupying second place in the table and with a market value estimated at 703.50 million euros according to Transfermarkt, while Espanyol stands at 141.60 million.
This Saturday's match promises to be a balanced duel, with both teams looking to demonstrate their quality and advance in the competition. Atlético de Madrid, despite its reputation and economic value, should not underestimate Espanyol, which has shown in recent years the ability to compete at its level. The outcome of the match and the final result will be decisive for the position of both teams in the table and for the confidence of their coaches.