Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid preview, H2H, team news: Lookman eyes starting XI

Ademola Lookman’s Atletico Madrid take a trip to the RCDE Stadium tomorrow, sitting 2nd in La Liga and just 5 points off leaders Barcelona.

How rapidly Diego Simeone’s side transform that pressure into objectives will depend greatly on how well Ademola Lookman surpasses Leandro Cabrera, the Espanyol protector more than likely to select him up through the inside-left channel.

Espanyol, by contrast, have actually won just 2 of their opening 8 league matches and sit 12th with an objective distinction of no, leaving Manolo Gonzalez requiring a reaction versus a going to side he has actually beaten just when in the clubs’ last 5 league conferences.

Match Facts · Espanyol vs Atletico Madrid

Competitors: La Liga, Matchday 9

Date: October 17, 2026

Kickoff: 13:00 WAT (14:00 CEST regional)

Location: RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat

League positions: Espanyol 12th · Atletico Madrid 2nd

Last conference: Atletico Madrid won 4-2, February 21, 2026

Nigeria connection: Ademola Lookman (Atletico Madrid, Super Eagles forward)

Kind Guide: Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid

Atletico’s current kind in all competitors checks out 6 wins, one draw and one defeat from their last 8 matches, a series that consists of a 2-0 home win over Manchester United in the Champions League and a three-nil away win at Real Sociedad.

They likewise beat Real Madrid 2-1 in your home and surged Osasuna 4-0, results that discuss why they have actually yielded just 8 objectives in 8 league matches, the joint-fourth-best defensive record in the department.

Their only imperfections can be found in a 2-1 Champions League defeat at Liverpool, and a narrow 2-1 win away at Alaves that was closer than the scoreline for Atletico’s attack recommends.

Espanyol’s last 6 lead to all competitors inform a more unequal story: a 1-1 draw at Malaga, a 1-3 home defeat to Elche, a 2-1 away loss at Rayo Vallecano, a 2-0 away win at Osasuna, a 1-1 home draw with Sevilla and a 2-1 away defeat at Real Sociedad.

Just one of those 6 matches ended as a tidy sheet for either side, and Roberto Fernandez has actually been the one constant, with 6 objectives in his 8 league looks this season.

Head-to-Head: Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid

The 2 clubs have actually fulfilled 5 times in La Liga throughout the last 3 seasons, with Atletico Madrid winning whenEspanyol winning when and 3 matches drawn, a more detailed record than the existing league space in between the sides recommends.

The most current conference began February 21, 2026, when Atletico won 4-2 in the house, with Lookman amongst the scorers on the night.

Espanyol’s win because run began August 17, 2025, a 2-1 home outcome, while the draws consist of a 1-1 at the RCDE Stadium in March 2025, a goalless draw at Atletico’s ground in August 2024 and a three-three draw at the RCDE Stadium in May 2023.

Throughout the last 10 conferences in all competitors, Atletico have actually won 4, Espanyol have actually won one and 5 have actually been drawn.

Secret fights: Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid

Lookman and the RCDE Stadium test

Lookman’s path to objective at Espanyol normally goes through the inside-left channel he leaves for Jonathan David, and Saturday puts that run straight versus Leandro Cabrera, the thirty-five-year-old Uruguayan who has actually begun all 5 of his La Liga looks this season.

Cabrera’s video game is constructed on placing and checking out the play instead of raw rate, which is the profile Lookman has actually been developed to make use of considering that his relocation from Atalanta, and the Nigerian has actually scored in this component before.

If Cabrera is pulled out of position to track Lookman’s underlapping runs, the area he leaves behind is what Alex Baena and Giuliano Simeone have actually been utilizing to integrate on Atletico’s.

Espanyol’s response, if there is one, is to keep their back line compact and force Lookman to beat Cabrera in seclusion instead of in the half-space, a strategy that has actually worked versus Atletico in spots this season however seldom for a complete 90 minutes.

Roberto Fernandez versus a kicked back 4

The other battle that chooses this match sits at the opposite end, where Roberto Fernandez brings Espanyol’s attack practically solitarily versus an Atletico main defence that has actually hardly been bothered this season.

Fernandez has 6 league objectives from 8 looks, easily the very best return of any Espanyol gamer, and he will likely see little of the ball with service originating from large instead of through midfield.

Dusan Hancko and Cristian Romero have actually included as Atletico’s first-choice main pairing and have actually assisted the group to the joint-fourth-best defensive record in the department, so Fernandez is most likely to get less sights of objective than his league kind alone recommends he is worthy of.

Espanyol’s finest hope is to feed him rapidly in shift before Atletico’s back line can reset, considering that a settled, client Atletico defence has actually provided challengers really bit when play decreases in front of it.

Espanyol

Kike Garcia stays out for Espanyol with a consistent muscle injury that has actually kept him out of the whole league project up until now, with his return targeted for around January.

Jofre Carreras is a doubt with adductor pain, while captain Javi Puado is back in the team after a long-lasting injury however continues to have his minutes handled by Gonzalez.

Andoni Gorosabel has actually gone back to complete training and is a late choice, though he is not anticipated to begin.

Forecasted XI (4-2-3-1): Fortuno; Hartman, Riedel, Cabrera, El Hilali; Edu Exposito, Pol Lozano; Bryan Zaragoza, Javi Hernandez, Tyrhys Dolan; Roberto Fernandez.

Atlético Madrid

Atletico Madrid have no fresh injury or suspension issues, with the complete team offered to Simeone for the journey to Catalonia.

Forecasted XI (4-4-2): Oblak; Pubill, Hancko, Romero, Grimaldo; Baena, Llorente, Hjulmand, Simeone; Lookman, David.