Antoine Griezmann heads to Atlético Madrid on loan
FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have reached an agreement for the loan of Antoine Griezmann for a season with the option of a further season. The Madrid club will pay the player’s wages and there is a compulsory permanent transfer clause.
Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid: Line-ups
Espanyol
Atletico Madrid
Atletico Desperate For a Win
#1
Diego Simeone’s side have collected seven points from their first three matches of the season to occupy fifth position in the table, while Espanyol sit 16th, having secured two points from their three games this term.
#2
The White and Blues started their 2021-22 La Liga campaign with back-to-back goalless draws against Osasuna and Villarreal before suffering a 1-0 loss at Mallorca before the international break. As a result, the Catalan outfit are still waiting for their first goal of the season, and head coach Vicente Moreno will be wary of his team’s struggles ahead of difficult matches against Atletico, Sevilla and Real Madrid over the next few weeks; it is very early in the season, but they will want to secure a win as soon as possible.
#3
Espanyol have only lost two of their last six league matches with Atletico and recorded a 2-1 victory when the two teams met during the 2018-19 La Liga season, while the last contest between the two sides ended in a 1-1 draw in March 2020.
#4
Simeone’s side were looking to make it three wins from three matches against Villarreal before the international break, but the champions were made to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw, with Aissa Mandi’s 95th-minute own goal earning the home side a share of the spoils at Wanda Metropolitano.
#5
The Red and Whites will now be looking to make it back-to-back league titles and will hope that off-the-field issues for both Barcelona and Real Madrid will cause the two biggest clubs in Spanish football to struggle on the field during the 2021-22 campaign.
DPP Verdict
Espanyol are yet to find the back of the net this season, but we are tipping them to get their name on the scoresheet on Sunday afternoon. That said, Atletico will be desperate to return to winning ways and are likely to be too strong for the promoted outfit over the course of the 90 minutes.
