Atletico Madrid vs. Espanyol: Key Issues That Will Shape La Liga Game
Atletico Madrid welcome Espanyol to the Vicente Calderon on Sunday in La Liga, as domestic football returns this weekend following the latest international break.
Prior to the interlude, Diego Simeone's men suffered their first defeat of the 2014-15 season, overwhelmed in the opening 15 minutes by a rampant Valencia outfit who disposed of the defending champions with a 3-1 victory at the Mestalla.
Now returning home, Los Colchoneros will look to quickly rebound against an Espanyol side who will be buoyed by their victory over Real Sociedad and have picked up seven points from a possible nine in their last three outings.
And already five points back of league-leaders Barcelona, the men from the capital can't afford to lose more ground when they return to action on Sunday.
Across the following slides, we examine five key issues that will shape this weekend's clash.
Atletico Madrid's Mindset
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So far in 2014-15, we haven't seen the utterly ferocious Atletico Madrid that became so widely admired around Europe last season.
In the current campaign, Diego Simeone's men are yet to go near that level we associate with them, seemingly in a battle to recapture the fire that propelled them to last season's incredible triumph.
And not all of it is down to the departure of Diego Costa. It's a mentality thing, and the manager has recognised it.
According to Jamie Kemp of Inside Spanish Football, Simeone's temper boiled over during the team's training session on Thursday, furious with the lack of intensity shown by his players as they prepare for Sunday's clash with Espanyol.
Clearly, Atletico are enduring a small hangover from the heroics of last season, but they'll need to conjure that characteristic vigour quickly if they want to claim three points on the weekend.
Antoine Griezmann's Minutes
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Antoine Griezmann completed his work largely separate from the main group during Atletico Madrid's training session on Thursday, per Jamie Kemp of Inside Spanish Football, raising doubts over the Frenchman's involvement against Espanyol on Sunday.
The 23-year-old, who was Atleti's major signing in the summer as the club splashed out £24 million to land the former Real Sociedad star, is yet to play 90 minutes in red and white, with Diego Simeone opting to ease Griezmann into the season with a considerable degree of caution.
But amid the defending champions' slow start to the campaign in front of goal, Los Colchoneros are in desperate need of added creativity and spark in their attack—qualities Griezmann possesses to a greater extent than any other member of the squad.
Thus, the Frenchman's minutes—or possible lack thereof—appear likely to heavily influence Sunday's clash, given the impact both his presence and absence can have on Atletico.
Who Will Edge the Physical Battle?
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Make no mistake, Sunday's clash is going to be a physical affair.
Espanyol, of course, don't possess the same depth and quality as Atletico Madrid, but when it comes to engaging in an arm wrestle, the Catalans are as willing as the men from the capital.
In fact, Espanyol are one of the few teams in Spain who can rival the defending champions for muscle and force, reflected in the tight pair of 1-0 battles (one win apiece) the two clubs competed in last season.
Edging the physical war, therefore, will be critical at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday, given that both teams tend to earn their success by battering their opponents in submission with overwhelming strength.
Lucas Vazquez Against the Atletico Madrid Left-Back
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Lucas Vazquez (pictured on the left) has been one of the standout performers for Espanyol this season after moving to the Estadi Cornella-El Prat on loan from Real Madrid.
An aggressive right-sided attacker, the 23-year-old has impressed with his ability to take on defenders and create chances for the likes of Christian Stuani and Sergio Garcia.
Given that the opposing left-back position has been a problem area for Atletico Madrid this season, Vazquez's battle with either Cristian Ansaldi or Guilherme Siqueira feels likely to shape the outcome of Sunday's clash.
If he recognises the threat posed by the young Spaniard, Diego Simeone will opt for Ansaldi's greater defensive awareness over his Brazilian counterpart's attacking punch.
Espanyol's Deficiency in the Air
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It's no coincidence this season that a number of Atletico Madrid's more laboured performances have come against sides quite comfortable in the aerial battles.
Both Eibar and Almeria, who pushed the defending champions in tight encounters, rank in the top 10 in La Liga for aerial duels won, while both Celta Vigo and Rayo Vallecano—teams that stole points from Atletico—also rank in the top half, per WhoScored.com.
Quite simply, if you're going to match it with Diego Simeone's men, you need to hold your own in the air.
And it's that fact which presents an issue for Espanyol, who own a significantly lower success rate in aerial duels than Los Colchoneros.
So while Atletico aren't anywhere near top form, and while Sergio Gonzalez's men are willing to engage in a physical affair, the home side might be able to capitalise on their likely aerial dominance when taking their renowned set pieces.
