La Liga Season Kickoff: Espanyol vs. Atletico Madrid
Get ready, soccer fans! The 2025-26 La Liga season is about to kick off, and things are looking exciting. Atletico Madrid, fresh off a third-place finish last season, are aiming for the title and will start their campaign with a trip to Catalonia to face Espanyol this Sunday night.
Last season, Atletico finished 12 points behind champions Barcelona, while Espanyol just managed to stay afloat, finishing in 14th place, a mere two points above the relegation zone. After surviving the drop, Espanyol, also known as the White and Blues, are back for a second consecutive season in La Liga—a first for them since 2023. They'll be hoping to climb the ranks, especially after a busy summer.
Espanyol has been active in the transfer market, bringing in nine new players, including forward Roberto Fernandez, who has joined permanently from Braga after a successful loan spell. They've also seen some notable departures, with 24-year-old goalkeeper Joan Garcia moving to Barcelona. In their pre-season matches, Espanyol looked strong, winning four out of six and securing a 2-2 draw against Premier League side Newcastle United.
Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid is determined to close the gap on Barcelona and Real Madrid. They last won the title in 2020-21, and they’ve made some big moves this summer to strengthen their squad. Their two biggest signings are Alex Baena and David Hancko, but they've also brought in a host of other talented players like Johnny Cardoso, Giacomo Raspadori, and Thiago Almada. With these new faces, Atletico’s squad will have a fresh look this season.
As for the match, Espanyol will be missing Javi Hernandez due to an injury, but they're otherwise in good shape. Their new signings, like Roberto Fernandez, are expected to make their debut and start in the middle.
Atletico might be without Jose Gimenez due to a muscular problem, but coach Diego Simeone should have a full squad available. We could see up to five new signings, including Hancko, Ruggeri, Cardoso, Baena, and Almada, making their debuts in the starting lineup. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating match to start the season!
