Frank Christian
After allowing Barcelona to take a four-point lead in the La Liga title race, Real Madrid is set to face Espanyol this Saturday, aiming to find some form.
Madrid’s start to the season has been rocky, with a few points dropped and instances of relying on last-minute efforts to secure results.
Although they remain unbeaten, the team has drawn twice in their first five league matches. In their latest game, they barely edged past Stuttgart in the Champions League with two late goals after a shaky first half.
On the other hand, Espanyol has quickly turned around their poor start, winning their last two matches following a tough beginning where they only earned one point from three games. Their recent victories include a dramatic 96th-minute goal against Rayo Vallecano and a 3-2 win over Alaves, featuring a hat-trick from Javier Puado last weekend.
Lineups and Team Updates for Real Madrid vs. Espanyol
Jude Bellingham, Aurelien Tchouameni, and Rodrygo returned from injuries to participate in this week’s Champions League clash and are expected to be available for the upcoming league match.
Eduardo Camavinga is currently dealing with an MCL injury, Dani Ceballos is managing an ankle problem, and Brahim Diaz has a hamstring injury. David Alaba is also out long-term.
Coach Carlo Ancelotti might consider reinstating Eder Miliato in the defense, moving away from Dani Carvajal’s recent positioning as center-back against Stuttgart.
Predicted Real Madrid XI (4-3-3):Courtois (GK) — Carvajal, Militao, Rudiger, Mendy — Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham — Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius.
Injuries: Camavinga, Ceballos, B. Diaz, Alaba
Suspensions: None
Espanyol’s only absentees are Fernando Calero and Edu Exposito. Calero, who recently bolstered the defense after the initial games, is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Exposito is recovering from an ACL injury sustained earlier this year.
Predicted Espanyol XI (4-4-2): J. Garcia (GK) — El Hilali, Kumbulla, L. Cabrera, C. Romero — Tejero, Kral, Aguado, Carreras — Puado, Veliz.
Injuries: Calero, Exposito.
Suspensions: None
How to Watch the Match: Real Madrid vs. Espanyol
Here’s how you can catch this La Liga game across various regions worldwide:
| Region | TV Network | Streaming Services |
| USA | ESPN Deportes | Fubo, ESPN+, WatchESPN |
| Canada | TSN1 | TSN+ |
| UK | — | Premier Player, LaLigaTV |
| Australia | beIN Sports 1 | beIN Sports Connect |
| India | — | GXR World |
