Real Madrid vs Espanyol: preview, predictions and lineups
Real Madrid will be looking to extend their winning streak in all competitions to four games when they face Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday night.
Real Madrid have struggled in the Champions League after beating Stuttgart 3-1 with goals from Kylian Mbappe, Antonio Rudiger and Endrick, while in the Spanish first division Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid have drawn two of their five games and are four points behind Barcelona.
Their next opponents have turned their fortunes around after losing their first two La Liga matches, as Espanyol held Atlético Madrid to a goalless draw before winning against both Rayo Vallecano and Alaves.
Here’s a preview of the full 90 minutes of Saturday night’s match at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid vs Espanyol head-to-head record
Current form (all tournaments)
How to watch Real Madrid vs Espanyol on TV and live stream
Real Madrid team news
Madrid manager Ancelotti may consider making some changes after the midweek win over Stuttgart.
Dani Carvajal started at centre-back but may return to his signature position at right-back in a pairing with Eder Militão and Antonio Rudiger. Either Aurélien Chouameni or Jude Bellingham could be rested in midfield, with the rock-solid Luka Modric moving into the starting eleven.
The front three of Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior are likely to start again as they look to continue their development as a fearsome new front trio.
Predicted lineup for Real Madrid vs Espanyol (4-3-3): Courtois, Carvajal, Militão, Rudiger, Mendy, Bellingham, Modric, Valverde, Rodrigo, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Espanyol team news
Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez will be aiming to win at the Bernabeu for the first time since 1996 but is unlikely to be able to field Fernando Calero or Edu Exposito.
Key to the team’s hopes will be 26-year-old forward Javi Puad, who scored a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over Alaves in their last match, and he could be joined up front by Alejo Bellis, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, or Morocco international Walid Chedira.
Espanyol vs Real Madrid predicted lineup
Espanyol’s predicted lineup for Real Madrid (3-5-2): Garcia; Hilali, Cabrera, Kumbulla. Tejero, Aguado, Graguera, Curra, Romero. Bellis, Puado.
Real Madrid vs Espanyol score predictions
Madrid certainly still need to improve their attacking fluency, but that hasn’t hindered their tenacious mentality, which has seen them remain unbeaten in seven games so far this season.
Mbappe and Vinicius will have a new chance to study each other’s game and a truly impressive win would undoubtedly be welcomed by the Bernabeu faithful.
However, Espanyol have proven formidable opponents so far and will be in high spirits for their trip to the Spanish capital, and Madrid should pick up three points relatively comfortably, although the score may be modest.