Real Madrid will be chasing a fifth straight La Liga victory when they host an in-form Espanyol side at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday afternoon.
Xabi Alonso’s men have enjoyed a flawless start to the league season, sitting top of the table with 12 points from four games. Espanyol, however, are not far behind — the Catalan club is flying high in third place, just two points adrift after also enjoying a strong start to their 2025-26 campaign.
While Madrid haven’t been at their dazzling best yet this season, results have spoken louder than performances. Alonso has guided Los Blancos to five straight wins in all competitions, including four in La Liga against Osasuna, Real Oviedo, Mallorca, and Real Sociedad. Their most recent league outing ended in a 2-1 victory over Sociedad, and they carried that momentum into Europe, defeating Marseille 2-1 in midweek Champions League action.
At the heart of their success is Kylian Mbappé. The French superstar has hit the ground running, netting six goals in his first five appearances of the season. Since joining Madrid on a free transfer, he has already scored 50 goals in just 64 matches, a blistering record that makes him the player to watch once again.
Historically, Real Madrid have dominated Espanyol, winning 117 of their 199 meetings. They eased to a 4-1 win in last season’s corresponding fixture, though Espanyol pulled off a surprise 1-0 victory when the sides met in February 2025.
Espanyol may not have fond memories of the Bernabéu with their last win there coming way back in April 1996, but they arrive this weekend brimming with confidence. Manolo González’s men have collected 10 points from four matches, a sharp contrast to their 14th-place finish last season.
They kicked off the campaign in style with a 2-1 win over Atlético Madrid, followed by a thrilling 2-2 draw with Real Sociedad. Victories over Osasuna and Mallorca since then have cemented their place near the top of the table. A shock win against Madrid would not only break a decades-long curse at the Bernabéu but also lift them above the reigning leaders into first place.
Espanyol might have the advantage of fresher legs, having enjoyed a week of rest compared to Madrid’s busy schedule, but Alonso’s side will still be favorites — especially with home support and Mbappé in rampant form. For Espanyol, it will be about discipline, confidence, and taking their chances if they want to script another upset.
INJURIES & SUSPENSIONS
Real Madrid will be without Trent Alexander-Arnold for the next six to eight weeks after the defender picked up a hamstring injury against Marseille. Ferland Mendy and Antonio Rüdiger also remain sidelined, although there is some good news for Xabi Alonso as young forward Endrick has returned to the squad.
Dean Huijsen is suspended after receiving a red card against Real Sociedad, which could hand Raul Asencio a chance to step into the heart of the defense. In attack, Vinícius Júnior is set to reclaim his spot on the left, with Kylian Mbappé leading the line and teenage star Franco Mastantuono expected to start on the right. That likely means Rodrygo will have to settle for a place on the bench.
The midfield picture looks brighter for Madrid, as both Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga are back from injury. Alonso has confirmed that the pair will be involved this weekend, though they may start as substitutes.
Espanyol, meanwhile, have problems of their own. Brian Oliván is out with a calf injury, and José Gragera is doubtful with a muscle issue. To make matters worse, Pere Milla is suspended following his red card against Mallorca, a significant loss given that he has already netted three goals this season.
Veteran striker Kike García, who came off the bench to score the winner against Mallorca, is tipped to replace Milla and could partner Roberto Fernández up front.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Real Madrid possible starting lineup:
Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Asencio, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni; Mastantuono, Guler, Vinicius; Mbappe
Espanyol possible starting lineup:
Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Dolan, Lozano, Gonzalez de Zarate, Puado; K Garcia, Fernandez
EXPERT PREDICTION
Real Madrid 2-1 Espanyol
