Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid Prediction and Preview – 09/04/16
La Liga preview – Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid prediction.
Espanyol captain Javi Lopez is expected to start at right-back after taking it easy earlier this week due to a bruised leg. Right-winger Hernan Perez is suspended for the match after picking up his tenth yellow card against Malaga at the weekend. Gerard Moreno has not scored for five games and faces competition from Felipe Caicedo for the main striker’s role.
Atletico will continue with the central defensive pairing of French youngster Lucas Hernandez and mainstay Diego Godin as Jose Gimenez and Stefan Savic are unlikely to be fit. Fernando Torres was sent off against Barcelona in midweek but is expected to get the chance to make amends on Saturday. Midfielders Oliver Torres and Thiago have been ruled out and the team should have a similar look to the one that surrendered the lead in the Champions League quarter-final first leg at Camp Nou.
Possible Line-ups
Espanyol 4-3-3 formation: Lopez; Lopez, Gonzalez, Roco, R Duarte; Diop, O Duarte, Sanchez; Abraham, Moreno, Asensio
Atletico Madrid 4-4-2 formation: Oblak; Juanfran, Hernandez, Godin, Luis; Niguez, Koke, Gabi, Carrasco; Torres, Griezmann
Statistics
- Espanyol have won 4 drawn 2 and lost 4 of their last 10 matches
- Atletico Madrid have won 5 drawn 3 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Espanyol have scored an average of 1.2 goals and conceded an average of 2.2 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Atletico Madrid have scored an average of 1.7 goals and conceded an average of 0.6 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Espanyol’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 6 of Atletico Madrid’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Espanyol have found some form in the last six-seven weeks, they are unbeaten in the last four games and have only lost once in the last seven. Constantin Galca’s side has won its last two home games by the same 2-1 margin, against Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano. Espanyol have yet to score in four meetings with top three sides so far this season, although they did hold Barcelona to a goalless draw at RCDE Stadium in January.
Atletico have not given up hopes of winning the title and are six-points behind Barcelona in second place. Diego Simeone’s men lost their last away game in La Liga when conceding two late goals at Sporting Gijon. They bounced back with their biggest win of the season against Real Betis last Saturday and are looking to register their 12th away win in La Liga this season.
Games between Espanyol and Atletico tend to be low-scoring affairs with seven goals in the last seven meetings and this could mean another 1-0 to the Madrid side.
Tips
Atletico Madrid to win at 21/20 with Sky Bet
Under 2.5 goals at 3/5 with Marathonbet
Atletico Madrid to win 1-0 at 5/1 with BetVictor
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