Atletico Madrid faced Espanyol on Saturday during their week 27 matchup and dropped another two points. After defeating Real Madrid back in February, it seems like Atletico has dropped the ball big time and since then has only won one match against Almeria. They lost against Celta Vigo the week after and now have dropped another six points in the last three matches as they have tied each and every one.
Atletico Madrid has not been able to acquire all the points they need in order to be in the race for la Liga title even though they are only nine points behind league leaders, FC Barcelona, but even then with the way they have been playing, it seems that their dreams to lift La Liga cup is no longer in their nearest future. It seems like their form has dropped big time as well as players like Antoine Griezmann, Mario Mandzukic, Fernando Torres and Raul Garcia have not been able to find the net. Fernando Torres has not been able to score in the last eight la Liga appearances and Atletico has not been able to score in the last three away games. There has also been a lot of heat between Manager Diego Simeone and striker Mario Mandzukic as he was left on the bench the last few games.
Espanyol FC has also been the team that has been on a roller coaster this season. In early January they were in sixth place and now they have dropped to ninth place with only nine wins in their hands and 12 loses. Mexican defender, Hector Moreno has returned to the squad after an injury he obtained in the FIFA World Cup put him out for a good couple months. Espanyol has not been able to find the form they need as well to be in La Liga title as they have had some heavy competition from Villarreal, Malaga and Athletic Club, teams that are all ahead of them in La Liga table.
Atletico Madrid will face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday for the UEFA Champions League and Getafe on Saturday for La Liga, while Espanyol faces Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday, a couple hours before El Clasico.
Photo by: Andres Kudacki/Associated Press