Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid Predictions

Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid predictions for this La Liga action at RCDE Stadium. Atletico Madrid start their 2025-26 La Liga campaign on Sunday night, visiting Espanyol in Catalonia as they aim to mount a title challenge. Read on for our free La Liga predictions and betting tips.

La Liga | Aug 17 2025 at 8:30 pm UK at RCDE Stadium

Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid Predictions

Can Atletico’s new-look squad cope with Espanyol’s defiance in Catalonia?

• Espanyol resilience at home: They avoided defeat in 11 of their final 13 La Liga fixtures at the RCDE Stadium, making them a much tougher opponent in Catalonia than their league position suggested.
• Atletico’s away struggles: Diego Simeone’s side failed to win seven of their last 10 away league matches last term, regularly faltering when tasked with breaking stubborn sides down.
• Balanced head-to-head: The last four meetings between these two clubs all ended level, showing how closely matched they can be regardless of league position.

Best Bet for Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid

The La Liga season bursts into life with Atletico Madrid making the trip to Barcelona’s RCDE Stadium to lock horns with Espanyol. For Atletico, this is a campaign where ambitions stretch far beyond simply competing. Last year’s third-place finish left them well adrift of Barcelona and Real Madrid, and they’ve responded by refreshing their squad with a raft of new signings.

Espanyol, on the other hand, survived by the skin of their teeth in 2024–25, finishing just two points above the dreaded drop zone. Yet, optimism has crept into Catalonia thanks to a busy summer of recruitment and a pre-season where results suggested a more balanced and competitive outfit. It is one of those early-season fixtures where expectations collide with reality: Atletico are under pressure to deliver from day one, while Espanyol are desperate to prove they are not destined for another relegation scrap.

Sunday night in Barcelona could be a tense one, not just because of the heat but because both sides know momentum in August can shape the story of their season.

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Best Bet for Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid

At BettingTips4You we cut through the noise. No long lists of wagers, no confusion. One single best bet per game – that’s our philosophy. For this clash, the bet that stands out is Both Teams to Score.

Why? Because both sides have undergone sweeping changes in the summer, particularly in defensive areas, and early-season chemistry rarely clicks straight away. Atletico have new defenders such as David Hancko and Matteo Ruggeri potentially debuting together, while Thiago Almada and Alex Baena could be asked to settle immediately in midfield. Even with Oblak in goal, it’s hard to expect a completely watertight showing when half the team are bedding in.

Espanyol have reasons to fancy their chances. Javi Puado was their top scorer last season with 12 league goals and looks in sharp form after pre-season. Roberto Fernandez has also returned permanently after a positive loan spell, giving Manolo Gonzalez’s side extra bite up front. Add in the fact that they’ve strengthened with Marko Dmitrovic in goal and Miguel Rubio in defence, the team feels more competitive than their relegation flirtation might suggest.

Atletico still have plenty of firepower, not least Julian Alvarez who scored a staggering 29 goals last year. Even if the visitors are slow to gel, Alvarez’s sharpness should guarantee chances. With the Red and Whites pushing to dominate possession and Espanyol looking to exploit transitions at home, the likelihood of both nets bulging feels strong.

BettingTips4You.com expert quote – Gerard Gabasa:

“Espanyol are stronger than many give them credit for and Atletico, with so many new faces, may not be perfectly balanced yet. Both teams finding the net looks the smartest angle here.

The most probable correct score looks 1-1. Atletico will be expected to control proceedings, but Espanyol’s home form late last season and their added attacking depth mean they should avoid being rolled over.

Likely Correct Score

Espanyol 1-1 Atletico Madrid. The hosts’ added bite in attack and Atletico’s adjustments at the back point towards a share of the spoils, with both teams on the scoresheet.

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