Atletico Madrid kicks off its 2025-26 La Liga season with an away match against Espanyol on Sunday. The game is set for August 17, 2025, at 3:00 PM EDT at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, Spain. Fans can watch the match on ESPN2 or stream it on Fubo.

After finishing third in La Liga for the third time in four seasons, Atletico Madrid is eager to challenge rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona. The club has invested over $200 million in new players this summer, aiming to strengthen its squad under coach Diego Simeone. New signings include winger Alex Baena, defender David Hancko, and midfielder Johnny Cardoso. Italian forward Giacomo Raspadori recently joined the team for $26 million from Napoli, while Juan Musso and Matteo Ruggeri have also arrived from Atalanta.

Espanyol has also been active in the transfer market, bringing in nine new players. However, the most significant change for the Catalan club was the departure of goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who transferred to Barcelona for $30 million.

Despite Atletico's ambitions, the team has struggled against Espanyol in recent encounters. Atletico has not won any of its last four matches against Espanyol, although it has not lost to them since 2019. This trend may be a concern for the Madrid club as it seeks to start the season on a positive note.

The match is part of a busy schedule for Atletico Madrid, which aims to improve its performance after a solid but inconsistent previous season. The team will look to regain its defensive strength and enhance its attacking capabilities to compete more effectively against the top teams in La Liga.