Atletico Madrid vs Leganes Predictions

• Atletico Madrid have amassed 21 points from their ten home La Liga matches this season (W6, D3 and L1), keeping clean sheets in five of those games.
• Leganes are without a league win on the road this term (D4, L5). Los Pepineros have failed to hit the net in four of those games, scoring just six goals in total on their travels.
• Atleti have won three of the last four league meetings between the teams (W3, D1) without conceding a goal, including a 0-1 victory in August’s reverse fixture at Butarque.

Atleti’s title hopes fade at Ipurua

A distinctly off-colour Atletico Madrid suffered their third league defeat of the campaign against Eibar last weekend, as goals from Esteban Burgos and Edu Exposito sealed a well-deserved 2-0 success for Los Armeros at Ipurua.

Atleti’s flat performance in the Basque Country can perhaps be attributed to their recent Supercopa exertions in Saudi Arabia, but it was a result that Diego Simeone’s side could ill-afford in the context of the title race.

Los Colchoneros are now eight points behind joint leaders Real Madrid and Barcelona who both managed to grind out three points on Matchday 20, and their outright odds of around 50/1 for the La Liga title strongly imply that Atleti are set to come up short once again this season.

Simeone must now look to solidify Atleti’s place in the top four, and this weekend’s fixture against second bottom Leganes offers his side an excellent chance to return to winning ways, after they were also beaten 2-1 AET on Thursday night by Cultural Leonesa in the Copa Del Rey (several changes made).

Lega’s recovery mission halted

Leganes ended 2019 in fine form after collecting seven points form their fixtures against Celta Vigo (3-2), Alaves (1-1) and Espanyol (2-0), but the New Year hasn’t started quite so well for Javier Aguirre’s charges.

Los Pepineros blew a lead late in the day to draw 2-2 at Valladolid on Matchday 19, and they were comprehensively swept aside 0-3 by Getafe at Butarque last weekend.

The manner of that defeat could be a real momentum killer for Lega who had been making giant strides under their new manager, and they must now travel to Wanda Metropolitano to face their more illustrious city rivals, having failed to win any of their nine away league matches so far this season (D4, L5).

Unlike Atleti, Leganes did manage cup success in midweek as they fended off Ebro 0-1 to reach the Last 16, but there’s nothing to suggest that Los Pepineros can follow up this Sunday, with Atleti losing out only to Barcelona in front of their own supporters this season.

Routine win likely for Atleti

Indeed, Atleti have amassed 21 points from ten home league outings this term (W6, D3 and L1), and they have maintained clean sheets in five of those games.

The host’s boast the joint second best defensive record in La Liga with just 14 goals conceded this term, and they should enjoy a comfortable morning here against a Leganes side who have failed to score in four of their nine away La Liga games this season, netting just six goals in total on their travels.

Atleti have earned ten points from the last four league meetings between the pair, winning on three occasions to nil including August’s 0-1 victory at Butarque, so everything points towards another win to nil for Simeone’s side this weekend.

The hosts have netted at least twice in four of their last five matches at Wanda, whilst Leganes have shipped almost two goals per game on the road. With those stats in mind, we’re also predicting a 2-0 correct score in favour of Los Colchoneros.