Espanyol vs Real Madrid

RCDE Stadium is the venue as promoted Espanyol play host to La Liga pacesetters Real Madrid.

It’s been an underwhelming start to the season for returning boys Espanyol, who have claimed just one win from their first seven La Liga matches this term (D3, L3). Sitting a mere three points clear of the relegation zone, the ‘Periquitos’ will have to defy their humiliating recent top-flight H2H record against Madrid to prevent a further downfall, having lost 20 of their last 23 La Liga H2Hs (W1, D2), conceding an alarming 2.6 goals on average per game in that period. Entertainment has been relatively sparse at the RCDE Stadium this season, as two of Espanyol’s three league fixtures here have featured under 2.5 overall goals following a goalless half-time. Yet, if they somehow upset the odds and win here, it would mark the Catalans’ first back-to-back La Liga victories on home turf since May 2019.

Meanwhile, an embarrassing 2-1 home defeat to Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League midweek crippled Madrid’s wings. However, the visitors take the field as one of just two teams yet to taste a bite of defeat in La Liga this season (W5, D2). What’s more, Carlo Ancelotti’s all-out approach has seen ‘Los Merengues’ net a league-high 21 goals this La Liga season, scoring 5+ goals in back-to-back league outings prior to an uneventful scoreless draw with Villarreal last time out. Warm favorites to maintain their lead at the summit, ‘Los Blancos’ are unbeaten in 18 consecutive league games away from home (W12, D6) and could equal their longest undefeated road streak in their top-flight history if they avoid defeat here. That prospect is very much in the realm of possibility, with Real winning nine of their last 11 La Liga visits to the RCDE Stadium (D1, L1)