Espanyol are inching closer to safety in La Liga after a 1-1 draw at Sevilla last weekend, their fifth draw in six matches. Although they still find themselves in the relegation zone, manager Manolo González was pleased with the result, highlighting the importance of picking up points on the road. Espanyol have struggled away from home this season, earning just two points from their travels.
However, their home form has been a different story altogether. The Parakeets have picked up 90% of their points at the RCDE Stadium, winning five and drawing three of their 11 home matches. This impressive record will be put to the test on Sunday as they host reigning champions and league leaders Real Madrid.
Real Madrid come into the match on the back of a 3-0 win over Brest in the UEFA Champions League, securing their passage into the knockout stages. Domestically, they have been in scintillating form, winning their last four La Liga fixtures, including a 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid last weekend. Carlo Ancelotti’s men have been ruthless in attack, scoring an average of 3.25 goals per game in their last four league outings.
Espanyol will need to be at their best to contain the Real Madrid attack, which has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks. The visitors have been particularly impressive on the road, winning three and drawing one of their last four away matches in La Liga. They have also been ruthless against teams in the bottom five, winning all three of their matches against such opponents this season.
One player to watch for Espanyol is Roberto Fernández, who has made an instant impact since arriving on loan from Braga. The midfielder scored the winner against Valladolid and picked up a booking against Sevilla. For Real Madrid, Rodrygo will be looking to continue his good form against Espanyol, having scored three times in seven league appearances against the Parakeets.
The match promises to be an exciting encounter, with Espanyol’s home form pitted against Real Madrid’s attacking prowess. Will the Parakeets be able to contain the champions and pick up a valuable win, or will Real Madrid’s momentum prove too much to handle?
