* Espanyol have collected just seven points out of last 33 possible points. Despite this, they can still qualify for Europe, if they manage to win the rest of their games.
* Mauricio Pochettino's men have been struggling since the beginning of the new year owing to the sale of several key players without replacements.
* The 'Catalans' have a very tough run in for the season end, as matches with Barcelona, Sevilla, Valencia and Bilbao are yet to come.
* 'Los Periquitos' are missing de la Pena, Sergio Garcia, David Garcia and Raul Baena through injuries, but have midfielder Javi Marquez available after a long layoff.
* Atletico de Madrid are on a good run with just one defeat in last five matches, that too against Real Madrid.
* They are level on points with the Basque side Bilbao for the sixth spot. However, their inferior head to head record pushes them into the seventh place.
* 'The mattress makers' are in a prime positon to finish on a high note as they have negotiated all their 'tough' fixtures and all their remaining matches are with the sides below them in the league table
* Quique Flores is without Diego Forlan for this match.
* Matches between the two sides in the last few years have tended to be even, with Atletico winning five and Espanyol winning four.
LAST MEETING
A bridge too far??
January 7, 2011: Espanyol 1-1 Atletico Madrid
Last time around these sides met in Copa Del Rey's second leg which saw Atletico Madrid advance to the next round on a 2-1 aggregate win.
Espanyol were down 1-0 at half time due to Aguero strike and a 92nd minute goal by Luis Garcia only proved to a consolation goal as the match was already over when Aguero struck. That strike meant that Espanyol needed three goals to advance which was always going to be a bridge too far.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Espanyol: Kameni; Raúl RodrÃguez, Amat, Francisco Torres, Galán; Verdú, Javà López, Pablo Osvaldo, Iván Alonso, Callejón; Luis Garcia;
Atletico de Madrid: De Gea; GodÃn, Perea, Kasmirski ,Ujfalusi; Mario Suárez, Tiago, Koke, Reyes; Diego Costa, Agüero;
Prediction
The two teams have always had close matches irrespective of their form. However, Atletico seemed to have re-discovered their joy of winning whereas Espanyol are to discover theirs. Atletico are yet to win at Espanyols' home this season but this could be the time when can actually do it.
Espanyol 1-2 Atletico Madrid 
