Real Madrid returned to La Liga duty on Saturday with RCD Espanyol the visitors at the Santiago Bernabeu against the Spanish champions. With three wins and two draws from five games, Carlo Ancelotti’s men are unbeaten but are still four points off the pace set by Barcelona at the summit. The Whites dropped points against Mallorca and Las Palmas away from home, so they must be careful not to settle against visitors they are expected to beat comfortably. Wins over Real Betis and Real Sociedad as well as a UEFA Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart means they are in good form with this game as well as Alaves and the Madrid derby against bitter rivals Atletico Madrid to come before a trip to France to face Lille in the UCL.
Unbeaten at home against Espanyol since 1996, Real have won their last three games against their Catalan visitors. Back in the top flight having moved up through the playoffs, Espanyol are looking to avoid immediate relegation back to the second tier. Two initial losses were followed by two wins and a draw, which makes things more positive for Manolo Gonzalez and his players. Espanyol have shipped seven goals in their last two outings against Real and their seven La Liga wins against Los Blancos have all come at home.
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How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, September 21 | Time: 3 pm ET
- Location: Santiago Bernabeu – Madrid, Spain
- Check out: ESPN Sports | Stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Probability: Actual -650; Withdrawal +700; Espanyol +1600
Story so far
Real are aiming for three straight wins in La Liga when they face their in-form visitors this weekend with Barca leading by four points. Ancelotti’s side have 11 points from five games and have won their last two league outings as well as their UEFA Champions League opener. Espanyol have won their last two to rise to 12th with seven points.
Team news
Real: Brahim Diaz, Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga and David Alaba are all out. Jude Bellingham managed 80 minutes against Stuttgart after injury and the England international should start again. Eder Militao should come in with Rodrygo along with Mbappe and Vini Jr. Endrick scored his second Real against Stuttgart to become their youngest ever UCL goalscorer but is likely to remain as a substitute for now.
Possible Real XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Espanyol: Gonzalez should name the same XI as the Alaves win with Puado’s hat-trick making him nailed on as a starter. Alejo Veliz should continue in attack with one goal so far although Fernando Calero and Edu Exposito are unlikely to be available yet.
Possible Spanish XI: J Garcia; From Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Tejero, Kral, Aguado, Carreras; Wow, Veliz.
Prediction
This should be a simple win for Real, but Espanyol will be hoping to make life difficult for their hosts. A two-goal margin of victory sounds about right with a 3-1 scoreline not to be dismissed. Choose: Real 2, Espanyol 0.
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