Real Madrid vs. Espanyol
League leaders Real Madrid welcome a surprisingly strong Espanyol side on Saturday, who have settled into third place in the Primera División after a remarkable preseason. The Blancos are top of the table with a perfect 12 points from four games, while the Pericos are just two points behind with ten points.
The comparison of form is interesting: while Real Madrid underlined their perfect league record with four wins, Espanyol showed particular fighting spirit in their recent 3-2 win over Mallorca. Despite Pere Milla’s red card after the first half, the Catalans won with ten men, underlining their new mentality under Manolo González.
The last meeting in February ended in a surprise 1-0 win for Espanyol, which contradicts the historical record. Real Madrid had won the previous four encounters, often by a clear margin. However, Xabi Alonso cannot count on his full defensive line: Rüdiger is out for months with a thigh injury, Alexander-Arnold is struggling with muscle problems, and Mendy remains injured.
The bookmakers see the Madrid team as clear favorites, which seems understandable given the league table situation. Nevertheless, Espanyol’s current form could provide a surprise, as the Pericos have proven that they can fight even when outnumbered.
- Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
- Date and time: 20.09.2025, 4:15 p.m.
- Competition: Primera División (matchday 5)
Real Form & Record Check
Real Madrid currently sits unchallenged at the top of the Primera División table. With four wins from four games, Xabi Alonso’s team is showing impressive consistency, even if its lead over Barcelona is still manageable at just two points.
The 2-1 win against Real Sociedad a few days ago highlighted the team’s strength of character. Interestingly, the turnaround only came in the second half, after Huijsen was sent off early on with a red card. The Comité Técnico de Árbitros subsequently ruled that the punishment was too harsh, but Real showed morale and turned the game around despite being a man down.
Mbappé is increasingly becoming the decisive factor. His 50 goals in 64 games for Real speak for themselves, and his two penalty goals against Marseille in the Champions League underlined his coolness in important moments. The Frenchman is increasingly taking on the role of leader, while Vinicius is currently somewhat overshadowed by him.
However, injury worries are casting a considerable shadow over the picture. Rüdiger will be out for ten to twelve weeks, Alexander-Arnold for six to eight weeks. Added to this is Mendy’s ongoing absence following his tendon injury. Alonso will have to get creative, especially as Carvajal’s suspension after his red card against Marseille further limits the options. One might think that these absences come at an inopportune time, with the calendar becoming increasingly busy.
Real Madrid are likely to line up in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation, which Xabi Alonso prefers. However, personnel problems in defense are forcing some changes: With Rüdiger (thigh injury, at least two months), Alexander-Arnold (thigh injury, six to eight weeks) and Mendy (thigh problems), three important regulars are missing.
Huijsen could play alongside Militão in central defense, provided his appeal against the red card is successful. Carreras is likely to start at left-back, while Carvajal should be set to start on the right. Tchouaméni and Valverde will form the midfield duo, with Rodrygo, Bellingham, and Güler expected to play behind Mbappé.
Espanyol Form & Record Check
The Catalans have made a surprisingly strong start to the season and are level with Barcelona on ten points in third place in the table, a position they have not held for three decades. Four wins from four league games and just one draw speak for themselves.
Particularly impressive was the recent 3-2 win against Mallorca three days ago, when Manolo González’s team had to play the entire second half with ten men after Pere Milla was sent off in the first half. Despite Muriqi’s 2-2 equalizer, Espanyol kept their nerve and secured the winning goal through Kike García’s penalty.
The statistics from recent weeks are remarkable: Espanyol has scored in all five of its most recent games, winning four of them and not suffering a single defeat. The offense has been particularly accurate in the second half, where the team regularly scores more than 1.5 goals.
Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández have established themselves as reliable goal scorers, with the latter standing out for his precise finishing. The team impresses with its intense pressing and quick transitions, which puts pressure on the opposition. Interestingly, González will have to do without Pere Milla today, as his red card from the Mallorca game has resulted in a league suspension.
Manolo González is likely to field his team in the tried-and-tested 4-4-1-1 formation. After the impressive 3-2 win against Mallorca despite being a man down, the coach should see little reason for major changes.
The absence of Pere Milla, who is suspended after receiving a red card for criticizing the referee, will be problematic. Interestingly, Kike García, who scored the decisive penalty against Mallorca, could move into the starting lineup. In midfield, Pol Lozano and Urko González de Zárate are likely to form the center, while Puado should take up his usual role behind the strikers.
In defense, Dmitrovic is expected to start in goal, with El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, and Carlos Romero. The absence of Javi Hernández due to his metatarsal fracture further limits the options, but the starting lineup seems experienced enough to hold its own against Real Madrid.
H2H Real – Espanyol Head-to-head & Statistics
Real Madrid dominates this fixture, with four wins from the last five meetings. Only the most recent encounter in February 2025 went to Espanyol, 1-0, which was Espanyol’s only win during this period.
The Royals are usually on an impressive run against the Catalans. Before the setback in February, they won four consecutive matches, often with clear results. The 4-1 win in September 2024 at the Bernabéu and the 4-0 win in April 2022 demonstrate Madrid’s superiority in home games.
Interestingly, these games have mostly been high-scoring affairs. Four of the last five encounters have seen at least three goals scored, with Real Madrid regularly stepping up their game in the second half. The Blancos scored after the break in four consecutive games prior to the February fixture.
Espanyol have scored in each of their last five games despite their poor record, but have also conceded goals on a regular basis. The Periquitos face the difficult task of repeating their surprise performance from February, when they beat Real for the first time in years.
“Both teams to score: Yes” is at 1.9 and seems quite realistic considering that Espanyol has scored in each of their previous games and Madrid’s defense is missing three regulars. Rüdiger, Alexander-Arnold, and Mendy are out, while Carvajal is also suspended after his red card against Marseille. Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández are in dazzling form at the moment, and the last three league games between the two clubs have always ended with goals at both ends. On the other side, Mbappé has already reached 50 goals in a Madrid shirt and looks unstoppable.
The tip for over 3.5 goals at odds of 2.0 reflects the offensive orientation of both teams. Madrid has exceeded the 2.5-goal mark in 80% of their league games, while Espanyol has conceded or scored at least two goals in the second half in four of their last five games. Mbappé has already scored six goals this season, and Espanyol’s courageous transitions could make for a spectacular game. Interestingly, the bookmakers see a draw at odds of 7.0, which could be good value given Madrid’s narrow victories and Espanyol’s confidence. Four of Madrid’s five wins have come by just one goal, and the strain of the Champions League could dull their edge. The market prices Madrid as overwhelming favorites at 1.2, but analysis shows that both teams are in excellent form and a more evenly matched contest is to be expected.
