Atlético de Madrid closes up the year at Vicente Calderón by receiving an Espanyol side that, just as the team from Madrid, is hav1ng a more than notable year. The visitors are in the upper part of the table and have become one of the direct rivals of Javier Aguirre’s squad. These teams have faced each other at Vicente Calderón in League matches on 66 occasions, with a balance of 45 home victories, 5 for the Catalan side and 16 draws. In these matches, Atleti has scored 176 goals, to 71 for the ‘periquitos’. Last season, Espanyol took away the three points by winning 1-2. Tamudo and Luis García scored the goals for the team managed by Ernesto Valverde, while Fernando Torres scored for Atlético.