On Saturday night, the reigning La Liga champions, Real Madrid, will travel to Espanyol for an exciting encounter in the 2024-25 campaign. With both teams needing points for very different reasons, this match promises to be full of drama.
Espanyol's Struggle for Survival
Currently in 18th place, Espanyol are deep in a relegation battle, only one point away from safety. Despite a mixed record of 5 wins, 5 draws, and 11 losses, the Catalan side has shown resilience in recent weeks. They are unbeaten in their last three home games in La Liga, which includes a 1-1 draw with Sevilla and a 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid. Espanyol's home form will be crucial as they aim to secure a vital point against the league leaders.
However, their history against Real Madrid isn't great, having lost their last four encounters, including a heavy 4-1 defeat earlier in the season. Nonetheless, their 2-1 win against Los Blancos in October 2021 gives them some hope of pulling off an upset.
Real Madrid: Top of the Table and in Strong Form
Real Madrid come into this game in dominant form. With 49 points from 21 matches, they sit comfortably atop the La Liga table, four points ahead of second-place Atletico Madrid. They are on a five-game winning streak, including a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid last weekend and a 3-0 win against Brest in the Champions League midweek. Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior, and Rodrygo have been instrumental in their recent success.
In terms of squad news, Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal remain sidelined due to injury, but Vinicius Junior returns after serving a suspension. Eduardo Camavinga might also be in line to feature after recovering from a muscular issue. Real Madrid have the second-best away record in La Liga, which makes them favorites to extend their lead at the top of the table.
Team News & Predicted Lineups
Espanyol’s Key Absences:
- Salvi Sanchez and Jose Gragera are out due to injury.
- Brian Olivan is a major doubt after an injury against Sevilla, with Carlos Romero likely to step in.
Real Madrid’s Key Absences:
- Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal are unavailable.
- Vinicius Junior returns, and Eduardo Camavinga could make his comeback.
Espanyol vs. Real Madrid: Match Prediction
While Espanyol have shown improvements at home, especially in recent weeks, Real Madrid's quality and depth should see them through. Espanyol will likely be able to get on the scoresheet, but Real Madrid should have enough firepower to claim a 2-1 victory.
Prediction: Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid
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