Prediction Espanyol vs Atlético Madrid 2025/2026 season – Betting Tips for La Liga on 17/08/2025

Match preview

RCDE Stadium will be buzzing on 17/08/2025 when Espanyol welcome Atlético Madrid for the opening round of La Liga’s 2025/2026 regular season. The Catalan outfit go into the curtain-raiser with mixed pre-season signals: their recent run reads like a rollercoaster, with two wins in their last five official friendlies but also a string of defeats that has left confidence fragile. Atlético arrive with a far more convincing pre-season résumé, carrying momentum from a notable 2-0 friendly win over Newcastle United and a string of high-scoring victories from the tail end of last season that suggest Diego Simeone’s side remain a potent force on the road.

The setting in Cornella de Llobregat promises an electric start to the campaign for both teams. Espanyol’s home form will be crucial if they are to disrupt Atlético’s rhythm, but the visitors have the pedigree and recent results to walk into the stadium as clear favourites. The bookmakers mirror that sentiment, giving Atlético the heavy vote in the 1X2 market and making them the side to beat on paper.

Form and recent meetings

Looking at the teams’ recent results, Atlético’s form over the last ten outings is markedly superior: six wins, one draw and three losses is a slate that points to a side finding consistency and finishing power. Espanyol’s return of three wins, two draws and five losses over the same span is less convincing and underlines a vulnerability that stronger teams can exploit. Their head-to-head last season in La Liga finished as a 1-1 draw, showing Espanyol can find the net against Atlético, but that result also highlights a tendency to concede and the difficulty of keeping Simeone’s attacking units quiet for 90 minutes.

Friendlies have offered a glimpse of both squads’ readiness. Espanyol’s 2-2 draw with Newcastle showed spirit and attacking intent, while Atlético’s 2-0 win over the same opponent demonstrated clinical finishing and defensive organisation at times. Those snapshots matter heading into the league opener, where early-season freshness and mentality often determine who takes the first three points.

Prediction and betting tip

With the balance of recent form, pre-season momentum and the market all pointing in the same direction, the logical conclusion is that Atlético Madrid are the pick for victory in the 1X2 market. The odds underline their status as favourites and reflect a team with more winning momentum. This one looks primed for an away win, though Espanyol’s home crowd and previous scoring against Atlético suggest they should not be written off entirely.

Betting suggestion: Back Atlético Madrid to win (1X2).