TIPS - Espanyol VS Atletico Madrid

[(Espanyol) Strength]:
1. Espanyol finished 14th with 11 wins, 9 draws, and 18 losses in last season's La Liga. They scored 40 goals and conceded 51 in 38 league games. In the offseason, the team signed new players to boost their lineup. They are strongly motivated in the first home game of the new season.
2. Espanyol's young forward Roberto Fernandez has completed his permanent transfer to Espanyol from Primeira Liga side SC Braga this offseason. During his loan spell last season, the player demonstrated promising attacking efficiency, making him a player to watch this season.
3. New signing Tyrhys Dolan, joining from Blackburn Rovers F.C., brings exciting potential to Espanyol's flanks. He possesses strong ball retention and combines well in tight spaces, which are attributes that should enhance Espanyol's flank attacking interplay.
4. Espanyol won 4 of the recent 5 games across all competitions in AH, showcasing strong winning strength.

[(Espanyol) Neutral]:
1. Espanyol drew 2-2 with Premier League side Newcastle United in the last warm-up match.

[(Espanyol) Weakness]:
1. Preseason matches revealed Espanyol's attack is consistent, but defensive frailties remain concerning. Their last friendly saw opponents convert 2 goals from 5 shots on target, highlighting vulnerabilities in neutralizing attacking threats.

[(Atletico Madrid) Strength]:
1. Atletico Madrid ranked 3rd with 22 wins, 10 draws, and 6 losses in La Liga last season, scoring 68 goals and conceding 30 in 38 league games.
2. Atletico Madrid's starting forward Julian Alvarez quickly integrated into the team after joining last season. In 38 league games, he notched 17 goals, revealing efficiency in attack.
3. Atletico Madrid's striker Alexander Sorloth, while not a guaranteed starter, has made the most of his limited playing time. Utilizing his technical ability and physical strength, he scored 20 goals in 38 league appearances, including a four-goal performance in one match.
4. Atletico Madrid won 2-0 over Premier League side Newcastle United in the last warm-up game, thanks to Julian Alvarez and Antoine Griezmann's goals.
5. Atletico Madrid's preseason form is gradually improving. Several attacking players have demonstrated good goal-scoring and assist contributions. If they can strengthen their defensive stability, they should remain title contenders this season.
6. In the previous 5 encounters between the two teams, Atletico Madrid slightly have the upper hand with an unbeaten record of 1 win and 4 draws.

[Tips]:
Espanyol have been in stable form lately, boasting stable offense but flawed defense.

On the other hand, Atletico Madrid's recent form has improved lately, and they featured solid defense and fit offense.

Combined with the two teams' previous H2H records, the AH line increases from -0.75 to -1.00 for the away team, indicating enough confidence in an away win.

Thus, Atletico Madrid are expected to win this away match.

[Recommended]:
Atletico Madrid (-1)