Espanyol is just two points away from the relegation zone after closing the eighth day of LaLiga with a position of twelfth. The relegation, which is now led by Elche with six points, has narrowed after Levante's last-minute draw against Sevilla, which allowed them to leave the hot zone and leave the parakeet in a critical situation.
With eight points under their belt, Espanyol faces Atlético de Madrid on Saturday in a game that is perceived as the only opportunity to move away from the danger zone. The league table has become increasingly dense, with Valencia in penultimate position with five points and Málaga, who finished with a draw against Real Madrid, occupying the last place with four. Relegation has become a survival race in which every point counts.
Espanyol's direct rivals have also had mixed results. Levante, who recently got a point, Rayo Vallecano (match suspended due to the arrival of leaflets), Getafe and Osasuna lost, while Racing and Valencia shared the victory, and Elche took a point. This situation has generated a platoon of teams fighting to avoid relegation, which increases the pressure on Espanyol.
The Catalan team's calendar looks complicated until the new national team break in November, with matches against teams that can be difficult. Therefore, the club's board has stressed the need to take advantage of the home game against Atlético to gain crucial points. The main objective is to calm the alarms and reduce the distance with the relegation zone, which is now very close.
In short, Espanyol must react strongly against Atlético de Madrid to prevent relegation from getting closer and closer. The pressure is intensifying and the club needs a positive result to maintain its hopes of survival in the top flight of Spanish football.