Real Madrid vs Espanyol
First hosts third in the La Liga match of the weekend when Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid will welcome Manolo Gonzalez’ Espanyol to a packed Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.
The Primera Division leader board has a familiar look about it with Los Blancos first and Barcelona second, but the arrival of the Blaugrana’s city neighbours Espanyol, who finished 14th last term, is something of a surprise. Three wins and a draw from their first four league games sees Los Periquitos flying high and they will arrive in Madrid full of confidence.
Los Blancos were in Champions League action on Tuesday and they squeezed past Olympique Marseille as Kylian Mbappe scored two penalties, while Espanyol edged out Real Mallorca in a five-goal thriller last weekend, at a heavy cost through, with a red card to an important player.
Talking Points
Cool-headed Mbappe keeps Los Blancos on track
While Real Madrid and Barcelona are leading in the early race for the 2025/26 title, and the La Liga 2025 betting odds confidently predict an El Clasico shootout; and Los Blancos have won five from five in all competitions, it hasn’t been all plan sailing for Alonso’s team. They have not been at their fluent best and certainly laboured to beat OM on Tuesday, falling behind to an early goal and winning only thanks to Mbappe’s cool head from 12 yards.
The France star has already scored four league goals to lead the race for the La Liga Golden Boot, bagging a crucial goal in the 2-1 win over Real Sociedad last week. He bagged a double when Los Blancos beat Oviedo 3-0 and Mbappe also converted a penalty in a 1-0 win over Osasuna in Real Madrid’s season opener. Winger Arda Guler and Vinicius Junior have scored two goals each but it is pretty clear that Los Blancos rely heavily in Mbappe and that is potentially a precarious position to be in.
In other news centre back Dean Huijsen, signed for £50m from Bournemouth in the summer transfer window, will be missing after he was red-carded against Sociedad; and with Anton Rudiger out for a few weeks with injury, Alonso has been left short at the back. There could be a start for left back Fran Garcia as the manager shuffles his back line, with Eder Militao at the heart of the Madrid defence.
Milla missing for Espanyol
Los Periquitos’ La Liga 2025 results have been impressive so far, and 32-year-old winger Pere Milla has had a big hand in the club’s early success with three goals from four so far. Last week he scored the opener but then took an early bath when he was red-carded just before the break. Mallorca roared back but Espanyol grabbed all three points when veteran striker Kike Garcia scored a late penalty.
Gonzalez has instilled a tough mentality in Los Periquitos since he led them to promotion in 2024 and survival last year. Now under the new ownership of Alan Pace’s ALK, and sister club to Premier League club Burnley, Espanyol started superbly this season, fighting back from a one-goal deficit to beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on the opening day, and they followed that up with wins over Osasuna and Mallorca and a well-earned 2-2 draw away to Real Sociedad. The relationship with Burnley may help out in the absence of Milla, as Luca Koleosho, the exciting Italian winger on loan from the Clarets, has shown he has plenty of pace and trickery and he is one player who can step in.
History
Real Madrid have won 117 of their meetings with Espanyol while losing 46, and they have won four of their last six league games against Los Periquitos, including a 4-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu; but when the two sides met in Barcelona later in the campaign Espanyol picked up a hard-fought 1-0 win.
Both clubs are in great form so far, certainly in terms of results as Los Blancos have five wins from five while Espanyol have three wins and two draws, including a 2-2 result in a pre-season friendly with Newcastle United.
Betting Tip
Real Madrid are red hot favourites at a SBOTOP price of 1.26 to win this clash with the draw at 6.41 and an Espanyol victory is way out at 10.25.
But while Los Blancos are riding high they have made hard work of their wins so far and reigning champions Barcelona are breathing down their necks. The Blaugrana are at home to fourth-placed Getafe on Sunday, by the way, and if they get some help from their neighbours in Madrid then the door will be open.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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