More misery in store for Espanyol at Atletico Madrid

La Liga
3.15pm Saturday

Espanyol’s early-season promise has petered out and a run of five straight defeats have damaged any European aspirations they may have had and a trip to the Wanda Metropolitano is unlikely to spark a return to form.

Rubi’s men looked set for a positive campaign when suffering only two defeats from their opening 11 games. But the goals have dried up and defensively they are being exposed far too often.

They have shipped three or more in their last four league losses and Atletico’s free-flowing frontline, spearheaded by French talisman Antoine Griezmann, could make hay against such fragile opponents.

Griezmann bagged a brace in last weekend’s 3-2 win at Valladolid, taking his seasonal tally to ten.

Los Rojiblancos are also hot on the heels of leaders Barcelona in the title race and their fortress, where they have picked up 20 points from a possible 24, has played a pivotal part.

Pace-setting Barca, three points clear of Diego Simeone’s troops heading into this weekend, and Eibar are the only two sides to claim a point in the Spanish capital, and five of Atletico’s six home league wins have featured a clean sheet.

• La Liga standings and statistics

The centre-back partnership of Uruguayan duo Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez, with the reliable Jan Oblak between the sticks, is up there with the best defensive units in Europe and Espanyol have their work cut out to breach it.

The visitors are severely short of confidence following their poor run of form, failing to score in two of their last three matches, and they may have to wait until the new year before they can turn their fortunes around.

Recommendation
Atletico Madrid to win to nil
1pt 17-16 188Bet

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