Reigning La Liga champions Real Madrid will travel to Espanyol on February 2, 2025, looking to secure their 16th league win of the season. With both teams in need of points for different reasons, this encounter promises to be a competitive one.
Current Standings:
- Real Madrid sit at the top of the table with 49 points from 21 matches, holding a four-point lead over Atletico Madrid and a seven-point gap from Barcelona in third.
- Espanyol, currently in 18th place, are battling relegation with 20 points, just one point behind 17th-placed Alaves.
Match Preview
Espanyol, who gained promotion last season via the Segunda Division playoffs, are fighting to avoid an immediate return. They have managed just five wins in 21 matches, alongside five draws and 11 losses. However, their home form has been solid lately, as they remain unbeaten in La Liga at home since October.
Manolo Gonzalez’s side played a 1-1 draw against Sevilla in their last match and previously defeated Real Valladolid at home. Despite losing four consecutive league games against Real Madrid, Espanyol’s fans will remember their 2-1 home victory over Los Blancos in October 2021 as a source of inspiration.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, are in excellent form, winning their last five matches in all competitions while scoring 20 goals in the process. They secured a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid in their last La Liga match and followed it up with another 3-0 victory over Brest in the Champions League.
With an important Copa del Rey quarter-final against Leganes coming up on February 5, Real Madrid will be looking to maintain momentum while avoiding unnecessary fatigue.
Team News
Espanyol will miss Salvi Sanchez and Jose Gragera due to injuries, while Brian Olivan is a major doubt after picking up a knock against Sevilla. Carlos Romero is expected to replace Olivan at left-back, and new signing Roberto Fernandez should start alongside Javi Puado in attack.
Real Madrid remain without Eder Militao and Dani Carvajal due to long-term injuries. However, Eduardo Camavinga might return to the squad. Vinicius Junior is also available after serving a suspension in the Champions League, meaning Rodrygo will likely shift to the right wing.
Possible Lineups
Espanyol: J. Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Carreras, Kral, Lozano, Tejero; Puado, Fernandez
Real Madrid: Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius
Prediction: Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid
Espanyol’s strong home form suggests they can trouble Real Madrid, and we expect them to score at least once. However, Los Blancos’ superior attacking quality should be enough to secure a narrow victory.
📅 Match Date: February 2, 2025
⏰ Kick-off Time (Nepal): 1:45 AM
📺 Watch Live on: Score808, Live7HD, Epics Sports
