Match Overview
Real Madrid welcome Espanyol to the Santiago Bernabéu this Saturday in what could be their toughest LaLiga test of the season so far. The home side sit top of the table with a perfect start, having won all their league games under Xabi Alonso. Meanwhile, Espanyol are unbeaten and have made an impressive start, placing themselves as dark horses in the title race.
The history between these two sides favors Madrid heavily, especially at home. Espanyol have not won at the Bernabéu in LaLiga since 1996, and Madrid will be keen to use home advantage, especially with a strong attacking lineup. Sportskeeda
Injury & Suspension News
Real Madrid’s defensive options are stretched. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, and Ferland Mendy remain sidelined with injuries.
Additionally, Dean Huijsen is suspended after receiving a red card against Real Sociedad and the appeal was denied.
Espanyol, for their part, will be without Pere Milla following his suspension for a red card, which is a significant blow to their offensive firepower.
Predicted Lineups
With absences in defence, Madrid are expected to field a lineup that looks something like this (4-2-3-1):
- Real Madrid Predicted XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Éder Militão, Raúl Asencio, Álvaro Carreras; Valverde, Tchouaméni; Mastantuono, Arda Güler, Vinícius Júnior; Kylian Mbappé.
- Espanyol Predicted XI: Dmitrović; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Dolan, Pol Lozano, Urko González de Zárate, Javi Puado; Edu Expósito; Roberto Fernández.
Key Battles to Watch
- Vinícius vs Espanyol defence: With Espanyol having a good defensive record against attacks from the wings, Vinícius Jr. could be pivotal if Madrid want to unlock play wide.
- Midfield control: Real’s double pivot of Valverde & Tchouaméni will need to dominate Espanyol’s midfield in order to suppress counterattacks and maintain possession.
- Espanyol’s attacking threats: Without Pere Milla, they may rely on Puado or Roberto Fernández to make an impact. Their counterattacks might be dangerous especially if Madrid commit players forward.
Prediction & Scoreline
Given Madrid’s home record, Espanyol’s injuries, and Madrid’s attacking form, here’s a reasonable prediction:
Real Madrid 2-1 Espanyol
Madrid are likely to take control, but Espanyol have enough quality to score. The match may hinge on Madrid breaking the deadlock and then holding off pressure, especially from the spurs of counterplay.
FAQ – Real Madrid vs Espanyol LaLiga Preview
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When and where is the match? | Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Santiago Bernabéu. |
| What’s Madrid’s current LaLiga form? | Four wins out of four — perfect start to the season. |
| Who’s suspended in Madrid’s defence? | Dean Huijsen is suspended, Alexander-Arnold, Rüdiger, and Mendy are injured. |
| Key player to watch? | Vinícius Jr. — his involvement up front could be decisive if he gets space and support. |
| What result is predicted? | A close win for Real Madrid: 2-1 prediction. |
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