Bet of the day: Atlético Madrid – Espanyol

Match Preview: Atlético Madrid vs. Espanyol

Date: Wednesday, August 28, 2024
Venue: Estadio Metropolitano, Madrid

Atlético Madrid will look to continue their strong start to the season as they host Espanyol in a midweek La Liga clash. Diego Simeone’s side has been impressive, picking up four points from their opening two matches, including a 3-0 win over Girona. The defense has been particularly solid, with Atlético keeping clean sheets in five of their last seven La Liga outings.

Espanyol, meanwhile, have found life difficult since their return to La Liga, losing both of their matches 1-0. With top scorer Martin Braithwaite sidelined, they’ve struggled to find the back of the net and sit near the bottom of the standings. However, their defense has shown some resilience, conceding only twice in those matches.

Team News: Atlético Madrid has no new injury concerns, allowing Simeone to rotate his squad with an eye on the upcoming weekend fixture against Athletic Club. Players like Axel Witsel, Nahuel Molina, and Clement Lenglet could see more action, with the latter potentially making his debut after his loan move from Barcelona.

Espanyol continues to miss midfielder Edu Expósito, who is recovering from an ACL injury. Additionally, Leandro Cabrera faces a late fitness test after pulling out of training, and if unavailable, Sergi Gómez is likely to step in.

Head-to-Head: Atlético Madrid has dominated recent meetings against Espanyol, remaining unbeaten in 11 of their last 12 home games against them in all competitions. Their last encounter was a thrilling 3-3 draw in May 2023, where Atlético fought back to earn a point.

Key Match Facts:

• Atlético Madrid has scored at least two goals in each of their last three La Liga matches.
• Espanyol has been solid defensively, but their attacking struggles have been evident with no goals scored this season.

Prediction: Our last pick in La Liga was a resounding success, with a 7-unit win on Villarreal’s dramatic 4-3 victory over Celta Vigo on Monday, where the winning goal came in the 100th minute. Riding on that momentum, we’re backing Espanyol tonight with a 3-unit bet on Espanyol +1.5 goals on the Asian handicap. Given Atlético’s heavy upcoming schedule and potential squad rotation, Espanyol might have just enough to keep this match close, despite their underdog status. 2,14 odds at 1xBet is for sure worth a try!