Real Madrid Faces Espanyol in Crucial La Liga Clash

BARCELONA, Spain — Real Madrid will face Espanyol in a pivotal La Liga match on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025, as Carlo Ancelotti‘s squad aims to maintain its four-point lead atop the league table. The match, set to kick off at Espanyol’s home ground, comes as Real Madrid prepares for the UEFA Champions League playoffs later this month.

Real Madrid enters the game with momentum, having secured three consecutive clean sheets. The team will welcome back Vinícius Júnior from suspension, while David Alaba is expected to make his first start since recovering from an ACL injury. Espanyol, on the other hand, grapples with injuries to key players Salvi Sánchez, José Gragera, and Brian Oliván, who suffered a knock in their last league match against Sevilla.

Espanyol’s potential lineup includes García in goal, with El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, and Romero in defense. Carreras, Kral, Lozano, and Tejero are likely to anchor the midfield, while Puado and Fernández lead the attack. Real Madrid’s starting XI could feature Courtois in goal, with Vázquez, Alaba, Rüdiger, and García in defense. Valverde, Tchouaméni, and Bellingham are expected to control the midfield, while Rodrygo, Mbappé, and Vinícius Jr. spearhead the attack.

Kylian Mbappé, Real Madrid’s top scorer with 22 goals across all competitions, will look to extend his tally against an Espanyol defense that has managed only two clean sheets in its last 11 matches. “We need to stay focused and secure the three points to keep our title hopes alive,” said Ancelotti in a pre-match press conference.

Espanyol, currently 18th in the league, faces an uphill battle against the league leaders. “We know it’s a tough challenge, but we’ll fight until the end,” said Espanyol manager Luis García. The match is expected to draw significant attention as Real Madrid continues its pursuit of the La Liga title and prepares for European competition.