Atletico de Madrid vs Espanyol preview - Atletico look to get back on track

Posted Saturday, October 18, 2014 by PA

Diego Simeone is feeling the pressure as his misfiring Atletico Madrid seek to get their La Liga campaign back on track at home to Espanyol on Sunday.

The defending champions have made a patchy start to the new season and their 3-1 defeat at Valencia before the international break left them in fifth place and trailing leaders Barcelona by five points.

Simeone has been working hard to boost the confidence in his squad, with Spanish media reporting he was blunt and to the point during a behind closed doors training session this week.

Argentinian winger Cristian Ansaldi told Atletico's official website his side cannot afford another slip against in-form opponents who arrive on a four-game unbeaten streak.

Ansaldi said: "We know the match will be another cup final. We want to get back to the winning environment this team has always been in.

"But we will continue to play our kind of football which last year led us to achieve many important goals."

Simeone must cope without Italian midfielder Alessio Cerci, who was sent off in injury time in the defeat at Valencia, but Raul Garcia is in line to return.

Opponents Espanyol have continued to improve under coach Sergio Gonzalez and their 2-0 win over Real Sociedad before the international break lifted them to eighth place in the table.

Uruguayan striker Christian Stuani said his side were not fazed by the prospect of taking on the defending champions in their home stadium.

Tuani told Espanyol's official website: "Atletico are a very strong team to beat. They have not started as well as they would have wanted but they have been very strong at home for a few years.

"In a place with so much history it will be difficult, but I think we are in good form at the moment and we can surprise them."