Espanyol take on the visitors Atletico Madrid in the round 36 match of Spanish LaLiga. The match will be played on Wednesday, May 24th at RCDE Stadium (Cornella de Llobregat).
Thanks to a rather unexpected victory over Rayo Vallecano in the previous round, Espanyol have increased its chances of staying in La Liga. The team is still in second-to-last place in the table, but they are only one point away from the salvation 17th position. Undoubtedly, the "Parakeets" will aim for a victory in the upcoming match against Atletico. However, I have serious doubts about their ability to achieve it. In the last 11 matches, Espanyol has only managed two victories and suffered nine defeats. Meanwhile, their opponent is a very strong team.
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Atletico sensationally lost to an unmotivated Elche in their recent away match in La Liga. However, they quickly rebounded and defeated a strong Osasuna (3-0) in the next round. Real Madrid also suffered a surprising defeat to Valencia at the Mestalla, allowing Atletico to surpass them in the table in the race for the second place. I believe that Simeone's team plans to outplay Carlo Ancelotti's squad in the battle for the silver medal and certainly doesn't intend to lose to the second-to-last team in the upcoming round. The victory over Osasuna was Atletico's fourth win in their last five La Liga matches. In this match against Espanyol, I consider Atletico the favorites.
It seems to me that the odds for this match are not entirely accurate. Yes, the hosts will fight for a victory that is crucial for them. But motivation aside, we shouldn't forget about the difference in class. Atletico is simply stronger than their opponent. Although Simeone's team may not have major tournament objectives anymore, they are still battling for the silver medals against Real Madrid. In their last five matches, Atletico has achieved four victories and suffered only one unexpected defeat. On the other hand, Espanyol has lost three out of their last five league matches, including a home defeat to Barcelona (2-4). I have much more faith in the away team's victory than in the success of the hosts. In their last home meeting against Atletico, Espanyol suffered a defeat (1-2). I think something similar could happen in this match. I believe in Simeone's team and I will take the handicap (0) of the Madrid team as insurance in case of a draw.
Prediction for the match: Atletico Madrid to win with 0.0 handicap.
