Real Madrid vs Espanyol Full Match 2024-25

Whilst Real Madrid remain unbeaten after five league games (W3, D2), that pair of draws mean they’re already four points behind table-topping Barcelona ahead of this round. Their unbeaten start has been built upon strong foundations with Real coming into this game after posting back-to-back 2-0 league wins, a repeat of which may surprise few given that their last six league wins came without reply and by multi-goal margins.

Solid league form was backed up in midweek by a triumphant 3-1 home win against Stuttgart to kick off Real’s Champions League title defence. Playing directly after European commitments doesn’t often affect Carlo Ancelotti’s men either, with the hosts winning their last five such league matches, four times without conceding. Another clean sheet appears likely for a side who have secured nine shut-outs from their last ten home league games (W9, D1), part of a whopping 26 game unbeaten La Liga home run (W22, D4).

After failing to score in any of their three opening league games, Espanyol have warmed up to the task by scoring five goals across back-to-back wins ahead of this clash (W2, D1, L2). Not since 2015/16 have Espanyol earned more than their current seven-point haul after five games, although the newly-promoted side look right up against it here at a ground they’ve not taken three points from since 1996.

Despite their resurgence across the last two rounds, Espanyol have failed to score away from home this season, which is rather peculiar given that they’d scored in 14 straight away league games on the way to relegation in 2022/23. That run included a 3-1 defeat right here which served as their first goal at the Santiago Bernabéu following a torrid seven-game run of away H2H defeats without reply.

Players to watch: Vinícius Júnior has scored two team openers from the spot this season and may hope for more here after notching six goal contributions in nine personal H2Hs with Espanyol (G3, A3). For the visitors, Javi Puado comes into this on the back of a stunning hat-trick last time out, a game which was his sixth consecutive scoring appearance that saw him net first.

Hot stat: All five combined league wins for both sides this season have come following a drawn first-half.