Fresh off a 2-1 victory in their UEFA Champions League opener against Olympique Marseille, Real Madrid prepares to host Espanyol at their home ground this Saturday. Xabi Alonso`s squad has commenced the 2025-26 LaLiga season impressively, securing four wins from four matches, scoring eight goals while conceding only two. However, their opponents, Espanyol, have emerged as one of the league`s early surprises, currently sitting third with ten points and an unbeaten record. Real Madrid will contend with the suspension of Dean Huijsen, who received a red card in their last away fixture against Real Sociedad. Conversely, Vinicius Jr. is anticipated to return to the starting lineup after beginning their Champions League clash against OM on the bench. Here`s a comprehensive look at the upcoming match:
Match Details & Viewing Information
- Date: Saturday, September 20
- Time: 10:15 AM ET
- Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
- Live Stream: ESPN+
- Betting Odds: Real Madrid -526, Draw +594, Espanyol +1288
Coach Xabi Alonso`s Thoughts on Vinicius Jr.
Addressing the status of the Brazilian forward, coach Xabi Alonso shared his insights, stating, “He appears to be in good spirits. My perspective from the outside was quite different initially. I felt yesterday wasn`t the opportune moment for a conversation, but today he was noticeably more cheerful and positive. We spoke, and later I worked with him individually during training. We`ll observe further tomorrow. It`s about having the right intuition for when to speak, and today felt right. We concluded the session on a positive note. We`ve completed five league matches, and there`s a long journey ahead. This is a marathon that stretches until May. We must approach our assessments gradually, allowing time for both the collective team and individual players to develop.”
Predicted Starting Lineups
Real Madrid (XI): Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Raul Asencio, Eder Militao, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni; Brahim Diaz; Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe; Vinicius Junior.
Espanyol (XI): Marko Dmitrovic; Omar El Hilali, Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Tyrhys Dolan, Pol Lozano, Urko Gonzalez de Zarate, Javier Puado; Edu Exposito, Roberto Fernandez.
