Real Madrid’s Vinicius Returns as Espanyol Aims to Avoid Relegation

BARCELONA, Spain — Real Madrid, riding a four-game winning streak, faced Espanyol on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at the RCDE Stadium in a LaLiga clash marked by the return of star forward Vinicius Jr. and Espanyol’s desperate bid to escape the relegation zone.

Vinicius, back after serving a two-match suspension, joined Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham in Carlo Ancelotti‘s attacking quartet. The Brazilian’s return bolstered a Real Madrid side that had scored three or more goals in 12 of their last 14 matches. Mbappé, in particular, entered the game in stellar form, having netted eight goals in his previous six appearances, including a hat-trick against Valladolid.

Espanyol, sitting dangerously close to the relegation zone, faced an uphill battle against a team they had beaten only three times in their last 34 encounters. Since moving to the RCDE Stadium in 2009, Espanyol had managed just two wins and one draw against Real Madrid, losing 11 times and conceding 32 goals in the process.

Manolo González, Espanyol’s head coach, made two changes to his starting lineup, with Carlos Romero stepping in at left-back and Urko making his first start in midfield. Despite the changes, Espanyol’s recent form offered little optimism, with just one win in their last six league matches.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, were without key players Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, and Éder Militão due to injuries. Ancelotti also reintroduced Dani Ceballos and Fran García to the starting lineup, aiming to maintain their dominance in LaLiga.

Espanyol’s fans created a lively atmosphere outside the stadium, hoping to inspire their team to an unlikely upset. However, history and form heavily favored Real Madrid, who had won 10 of their last 11 matches against Espanyol.

The match kicked off at 21:00 CET, with both teams aware of the stakes. For Real Madrid, it was a chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, while Espanyol fought to climb out of the relegation zone and reignite their season.