BETTING GUIDE: Real Madrid Vs Espanyol ,Match Preview,Team News and Betting Guide
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Reading Time: 4min | Sat. 20.09.25. | 08:05
Real Madrid sit top of the table after four flawless wins, while Espanyol have surprised many by climbing into third, just two points behind
Real Madrid welcomes Espanyol to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday afternoon (3.15pm EAT) in a La Liga fixture that has historically tilted heavily in favour of the hosts. The clash comes at a crucial early point in the season, with both sides unbeaten and eager to prove their credentials.
Real Madrid sit top of the table after four flawless wins, while Espanyol have surprised many by climbing into third, just two points behind.
With both sides boasting attacking threats and different tactical identities, this is shaping up as one of the weekend’s standout fixtures.
Real Madrid’s position at the summit reflects both efficiency and resilience.
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Los Blancos have won all four of their opening fixtures, scoring eight goals and conceding only two, and are already two points clear of Barcelona.
Their form guide reads WWWW, underlining their strong start. Espanyol, meanwhile, have also enjoyed a flying start, registering three wins and a draw (WWLD).
They’ve scored the same number of goals as Madrid (8) but conceded five, a sign of their more open style of play. Historically, this fixture has been one-sided. Madrid have won nine of the last 12 meetings, including a 4-1 victory in September 2024.
Espanyol’s only recent success was a 1-0 win last season, but at the Bernabéu, the record remains daunting for the visitors: Madrid have won 80 of 101 home meetings.
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From a tactical perspective, Real Madrid under Xabi Alonso remain committed to dominance through possession, fluidity in attack, and intensity in transitions.
However, their Champions League clash with Marseille highlighted issues: Madrid struggled to control the midfield and were reliant on Kylian Mbappe’s penalties to secure a 2-1 win, with Dani Carvajal losing his composure and seeing red.
In La Liga, though, the story has been different. Arda Güler has benefited from gaining more playing time, especially with Alonso arriving as the new coach and also due to Jude Bellingham’s absence, while Kylian Mbappé has carried the scoring load with four goals in four games.
VinÃcius Junior’s dribbling and ability to stretch defences remain vital, and Thibaut Courtois, with two clean sheets so far, anchors a defence that has only conceded twice in the league.
The key concern lies in discipline - Madrid have collected two red cards in four league matches, with Dean Huijsen suspended for this one.
Injuries also bite: Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ferland Mendy are sidelined, while Antonio Rüdiger awaits clearance.
Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga could feature in this match, both with few minutes, particularly after their recent return to the UCL matchday squad against Marseille following injury recoveries.
Even so, Madrid can field a fearsome frontline spearheaded by Mbappé and VinÃcius, a duo capable of unlocking Espanyol’s backline.
Espanyol, managed by Manolo González, have been one of the surprises of the campaign.
Sitting third with 10 points, they’ve taken notable scalps, including a 2-1 victory over Atlético Madrid, with Pere Milla scoring a dramatic late winner.
Their new-found attacking approach has seen them score twice or more in four league matches, though at the cost of defensive security.
They’ve conceded five goals already and remain vulnerable away from home, where they’ve failed to win in their last five league games, conceding two or more in the last three.
The suspension of Milla, their top scorer with three goals, is a massive blow to their creative output. In his absence, Espanyol may adopt a deeper block at the Bernabéu, relying on resilience and counter-attacks.
The likes of Carlos Romero, Roberto Fernandez, and Javi Puado will need to step up, while their midfield will be tasked with disrupting Madrid’s rhythm.
Statistically, a key positive for Espanyol is their resilience, having struck twice late on this season: Kike GarcÃa’s 81st-minute penalty in the 3-2 win over Mallorca and Milla’s 84th-minute goal to seal a 2-1 victory against Atlético Madrid - but against Madrid’s quality, lapses in accuracy (Milla’s 25% shot accuracy being a prime example) could prove costly.
Even with injuries, Real Madrid’s attacking options look overwhelming, particularly with Mbappé’s lethal finishing and VinÃcius’ ability to beat players one-on-one.
Espanyol, without their top goalscorer this season, will likely focus on staying compact and trying to hit Madrid on turnovers.
Still, at the Bernabéu, this is always a monumental task.
Key Pointers
Real Madrid have won all their matches this season.
In their last three matches, Real Madrid have conceded at least once.
Espanyol lost three of their last four away league matches last season, falling 2-0 to Osasuna, 2-0 to Barcelona, and 3-2 against Leganés.
Espanyol have conceded two or more in their last three away league matches.
In three of Espanyol’s last four league games, both teams have scored.
Prediction
Real Madrid to win and both teams to score.
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