La Liga serves up another blockbuster as Madrid take on Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabéu. Xabi Alonso’s men are riding momentum, still unbeaten in La Liga with four wins out of four. However, Madrid will be without their three prime defenders Rüdiger, Trent, and Huijsen. This game will be crucial as the La Liga title race heats up, with Barcelona also starting strongly on winning momentum.
Match Details:
- Fixture: Real Madrid vs Espanyol
- Date: Saturday, 20 September 2025
- Kick-off: 4:15 p.m. local / 10:15 a.m. ET / 7:15 a.m. PT / 12:15 a.m. AEST (Sep. 21)
- Venue: Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid
Real Madrid vs Espanyol Key Stats:
Real Madrid take on Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabéu fresh from a Champions League victory. Los Blancos have enjoyed an excellent start to the season, collecting 12 points from 4 games and sitting comfortably at the top of the La Liga table. Espanyol, however, have also begun strongly winning 3 of their first 4 matches, including impressive victories over Mallorca and Atlético Madrid. They arrive in Madrid high on confidence and eager to upset the league leaders.
To make matters tricky for Real Madrid, they will be without three key defenders. Antonio Rüdiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold are sidelined with injuries, while Dean Huijsen is suspended. Huijsen’s absence is particularly significant as he has completed the most passes for Madrid this season, and his ability to control possession from the back will be sorely missed. With Espanyol known for their resilience and sharp counterattacks, this clash at the Bernabéu promises to be far from straightforward for Xabi Alonso’s men.
Key Players To Watch Out For:
Real Madrid:
- Vinícius Júnior: It feels like he is back with vengeance as previous season was a disaster class after ballnador season. Known for dribbling and taking his man known with a flair
- Kylian Mbappé: The main man scored a brace in last game. With Espanyol likely to defend deep, his pace and ability to break lines will be crucial. He’s also in strong early-season scoring form
Espanyol:
- Roberto Fernandez: With the top scorer of espanyol out he has to be main man for Espanyol. He needs to step up for the team with the scoring responsibilities.
- Tyrhys Dolan: Espanyol attacks on counters which makes tyrhys a important option for counter attack with pace and consistent performances in previous games he will be important to the game
Tactical Battle:
Real Madrid have shifted their approach under Xabi Alonso, aiming to dominate possession and control games from midfield. However, the absence of Dean Huijsen will not be easy to overcome. He has completed the most passes for Madrid this season, and losing him means a key link in their buildup is missing. Alonso will be counting heavily on Kylian Mbappé’s form up front, while the return of Jude Bellingham gives the midfield extra solidity and attacking drive.
Espanyol, meanwhile, are likely to set up for quick counterattacks. They come into this clash full of confidence, sitting third in La Liga after an impressive start. Their belief will also be boosted by the fact that they defeated Madrid 1–0 in their last meeting. Even though Madrid lead the head-to-head record 8–2, Espanyol will back themselves to cause another upset at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Predicted Lineups:
Real Madrid: Andriy Lunin, Dani Carvajal, Nacho Fernández, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham, Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappé.
Head coach: Xabi Alonso
Espanyol: Joan García, Óscar Gil, Sergi Gómez, Leandro Cabrera, Brian Oliván, Keidi Bare, Vinícius Souza, Sergi Darder, Javi Puado, Martin Braithwaite, Joselu.
Head coach: Luis García
