In the last pre-match article, we saw how Girona was a rival that always made things difficult for Atlético de Madrid . The club from Madrid was able to win four out of ten games against Girona, but the statistics are worse against Espanyol . In the 13/14 season, the Catalan club snatched the unbeaten streak from Atlético de Madrid, who would go on to win the League with an own goal by Thibaut Courtois.
However, you don't have to go that far to see that Espanyol is a club that Simeone has not done well with in recent years . If we use the same comparison as with Girona, of the last ten games they have won four, drawn three and lost three others.
Controversies and agonizing victories
The matches between the two teams have sometimes been marred by dubious actions, such as the last confrontation with the phantom goal from Antoine Griezmann. With the score at 0-1, a play in which Yannick Carrasco shot at the post was rejected by the Frenchman who saw Fernando Pacheco take it off the line. Despite not having a clear decision, the referee decides that it should be a goal in a match that would end in a draw for the club after losing 0-3 .
In that 22/23 season , an early expulsion of Leandro Cabrera after half an hour put the match in the favour of the colchoneros. However, they would not know how to take advantage of the numerical advantage and it was only in the 78th minute with a goal from João Félix that they would equalise a match that was going uphill for them.
In the previous year , Atlético de Madrid had two narrow and agonising victories . The return match was won by the red-and-whites with a penalty from Yannick Carrasco after a handball from Raúl De Tomás in the 100th minute. And in the first leg, they had to come from behind again with goals in the 78th minute from Carrasco and in the 99th minute from Thomas Lemar after a goal from Raúl De Tomás.
In the 17/18 and 18/19 seasons , Atlético de Madrid recorded one win and three losses against the periquitos. The first defeat was 1-0 with a goal from Sergio García in the 88th minute, before a foul by Pau López on Antoine Griezmann was not called as a possible penalty. In the return leg, another 0-2 defeat with goals from Stefan Savić in his own goal and Leo Baptistao would extend the bad streak against Espanyol.
The following season, a 1-0 with a goal from Antoine Griezmann would make up for the bad streak that would be consummated in the next match that faced them. In the return, a crushing 3-0 left Cholo Simeone's men with no options to improve their record against the parakeets.
Rotations at Atlético de Madrid
Historically, we have seen in recent matches that this is a trap game for the Colchoneros. Relaxing would be seen as something more than a serious error. However, it is even more so when we are in the third round and, to make matters worse, in the middle of the week - which means that there will be opportunities for the less usual players.
In the case of Atlético de Madrid: Nahuel Molina could get minutes in place of Marcos Llorente or the recent signing Clément Lenglet to rotate in the centre-back position. It is true that against Girona, Koke, Alexander Sørloth, Ángel Correa and others were rested, so it is also expected that you will have more minutes in the upcoming matches.
We'll see how the next match between Atlético de Madrid and Espanyol ends. These matches have recently been dominated by goals in the last few minutes, penalties and red cards.