Real Madrid Host Espanyol in High-Stakes LaLiga Clash
Real Madrid are back at the Santiago Bernabéu this weekend, and the atmosphere is buzzing with anticipation. Xabi Alonso’s side, who are off to a flawless start in LaLiga with four wins out of four, are preparing to face an Espanyol team that has been one of the surprises of the season. The Catalan club sit third in the table, still unbeaten, and eager to test themselves against the league leaders.
Madrid’s confidence is high after a 2-1 Champions League victory over Marseille earlier in the week. That match, however, raised a few eyebrows because VinÃcius Júnior started on the bench. Many considered it a bold decision from Alonso, and some even called it a mistake. This time around, the Brazilian is expected to return to the starting eleven, giving fans the attacking flair they love to see.
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But not everything is smooth sailing for Los Blancos. Young defender Dean Huijsen will miss the game after his red card against Real Sociedad, and the club’s appeal was unsuccessful. The squad has also been stretched by injuries at the back, with players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Antonio Rüdiger sidelined. That means Alonso will have to shuffle his defense again, possibly relying on Raúl Asencio alongside Éder Militão.
On the other side, Espanyol have been punching above their weight. They’ve taken points off Atlético Madrid and Mallorca already, showing resilience and determination. Unfortunately, they’ll be without Pere Milla, who has been one of their key goal scorers this season but is serving a suspension after a red card last weekend. His absence could tilt the balance in Real Madrid’s favor, even though the visitors remain a dangerous side with Roberto Fernández and Kike GarcÃa expected to lead the attack.
Xabi Alonso has been careful in how he manages expectations. In his pre-match comments, he described the season as a marathon, emphasizing patience with both the team and individual players. He admitted that not every star can start every match, even Kylian Mbappé, who has been in electric form. Still, the Frenchman is likely to spearhead the attack again, joined by Brahim DÃaz, Arda Güler, and VinÃcius.
History is also against Espanyol. The Catalans have not won at the Santiago Bernabéu since 1996, nearly three decades ago. That statistic adds extra weight to Madrid’s already heavy favorite status, as reflected in the odds: Real Madrid at -526, while Espanyol are longshots at +1288.
Even so, matches like these are never played on paper. Espanyol’s unbeaten run gives them confidence, and Real Madrid’s defensive absences could leave gaps to exploit. Yet with the attacking talent of Mbappé and VinÃcius ready to combine, most observers believe Madrid will have enough to continue their perfect start. A tight contest is expected, but the prediction leans toward a 2-1 victory for the hosts, keeping Alonso’s debut LaLiga campaign spotless.
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