Espanyol vs Real Madrid Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Espanyol were always expected to be battling against relegation and they are indeed doing so as the Catalans now take on defending champions and league leaders Real Madrid this weekend.

Kick-off date/time: Saturday 1st February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN have the exclusive rights to La Liga games in the USA, so Espanyol vs Real Madrid may be televised on one of their affiliated channels

How to watch online: UK – Premier Sports / US – ESPN+

Espanyol Team News: Couple of doubts

The home team have a couple of potential absentees for this weekend’s visit of Real Madrid to the RCDE Stadium. Defensive midfielder Jose Gragera is a doubt due to illness, whilst full-back Brian Olivan is also an injury doubt.

Predicted XI (4-4-2): Joan Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Leandro Cabrera, Sergi Gomez; Jofre Carreras, Kral, Pol Lozano, Alvaro Tejero; Javi Puado, Veliz

Unavailable: 

Questionable: Brian Olivan (Injured), Jose Gragera (Illness)

Real Madrid Team News: Camavinga a doubt

After being injured and suspended respectively, David Alaba and Vinicius Junior are back in the squad as Madrid look strong ahead of the final few months of the campaign. Eduardo Camavinga remains a doubt for this one due to a hamstring issue.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Raul Asencio, Tchouameni, Rudiger, Fran Garcia; Dani Ceballos, Fede Valverde; Rodrygo, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; Mbappe

Unavailable: Militao (Injured), Dani Carvajal (Injured)

Questionable: Camavinga (Injured)

Espanyol vs Real Madrid Prediction

Espanyol come into this one on the back of a 1-1 draw with Sevilla at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in their most recent outing last weekend in a game in which Marash Kumbulla opened the scoring after 15 minutes before Loic Bade equalised mid-way through the second-half. The Catalans have now suffered one defeat in their last six matches in La Liga but there have been four draws in that time. Real Madrid have clicked into gear since losing the Spanish Supercopa final by five goals to two to Barcelona in Saudi Arabia earlier this month. Los Blancos’ 3-0 hammering of Stade Brest in the UEFA Champions League in midweek made it five successive victories across all competitions, scoring 20 goals in the process and they should win this one quite comfortably, too, despite coming up stubborn opposition.

Espanyol vs Real Madrid Tip: Real Madrid to win