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With the signing of Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid have created ‘galacticos 2.0’ but Los Blancos’ performances have been underwhelming throughout the last month as they now welcome newly-promoted Espanyol to the capital this weekend.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Saturday 21st September, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Real Madrid vs Espanyol may be televised on one of their affiliated channels
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+
REAL MADRID PREVIEW: FINDING FLUENCY
Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid, hunting for six trophies this season, have already won one and they are unbeaten in seven matches across all competitions so far this season but there is definitely a lack of fluency and overall quality to their play at the moment as they try and find a way to get the best out of all of their star talents.
They come into this one on the back of s 3-1 defeat of Stuttgart in their opening game of the UEFA Champions League in a game in which, once again, Stuttgart were probably the better of the two sides. In La Liga, they begin this weekend’s round of fixtures already four points back from Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.
ESPANYOL PREVIEW: CATALAN RISE
Under the management of Luis Garcia, Espanyol gained promotion to the top-flight by coming from behind on aggregate to defeat Real Oviedo in the Segunda Division playoff final. The Catalans then lost manager Luis Garcia to be assistant coach to Tintin Marquez of the Qatari national team before replacing him with B team coach Manolo Gonzalez.
Manolo Gonzalez’ side now come into this one on the back of starting slowly but steadily growing into the campaign after a goalless draw at the Metropolitano last month. Their most recent outing saw them entertainingly defeat Alaves by three goals to two at the RCDE Stadium last weekend.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS: THE RETURN OF JUDE
Jude Bellingham was due to return to Real Madrid last weekend but missed out. He did, though, return to the starting eleven to face Stuttgart at the Bernabeu in midweek.
Los Blancos remain without a few key players, though, such as Eduardo Camavinga but Austrian international defender David Alaba is edging closer to a return from his long layoff.
PREDICTED XI (4-3-3): Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Fede Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior
UNAVAILABLE: Jacobo (Injured), Camavinga (Injured), Dani Ceballos (Injured), Brahim Diaz (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Alaba (Injured)
ESPANYOL TEAM NEWS: CAPTAIN IS BACK
Espanyol are able to welcome back their important Uruguayan defender and club captain, Leandro Cabrera, after he missed a couple of games recently due to injury.
Despite his return to the side, the Catalans are still without a couple of other key players such as defender Fernando Calero and midfielder Edu Exposito.
PREDICTED XI (4-4-2): Joan Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Alejandro Tejero, Kral, Alvaro Aguado, Jorge Carreras; Javi Puado, Veliz
UNAVAILABLE: Fernando Calero (Injured), Edu Exposito (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE:
REAL MADRID VS ESPANYOL PREDICTION
Real Madrid have genuinely been unconvincing in pretty much every game they have played. There are two ways of looking at it: results will soon turn or they are playing like this badly, imagine what they’ll do when they click. Espanyol have shown the ability to play on the front foot as well as be as compact as any mid-table Spanish side. Madrid to grind out another three points seems a sensible bet.
REAL MADRID VS ESPANYOL TIP: REAL MADRID TO WIN & UNDER 3.5 GOALS