Actual Madrid continued their constructive run of type in opposition to Brest midweek, placing three objectives previous the French opposition and bettering their place on the UEFA Champions League standings.
Los Blancos didn’t make the High 8, and earlier right now discovered that regardless of ending eleventh on the standings.
They now return to motion on Saturday night time when they may tackle Espanyol on the RCDE Stadium. Notably, Actual Madrid have received three of their final 5 clashes on the venue.
The target on Saturday will likely be to protect the four-point lead over Atletico Madrid forward of the Madrid derby scheduled for subsequent weekend.
Madrid Common brings you three speaking factors forward of Espanyol vs Actual Madrid.
An opposition in dwelling territory
At first look, Espanyol’s place on the La Liga standings could throw the impression that the Catalans are a comparatively weak opposition within the league.
In spite of everything, the Catalans sit within the relegation zone with simply 20 factors after 21 video games and thus common underneath some extent in each sport. They’ve misplaced 11 video games and received and drawn 5 apiece to this point.
What makes the conflict tomorrow tough, nonetheless, is Espanyol’s report at dwelling the place they’ve been a formidable staff to beat.
The final time Espanyol misplaced a sport on the RCDE Stadium this season was again in the direction of the tip of October once they have been defeated by Sevilla by a two-goal margin.
All in all, they’ve solely misplaced thrice at dwelling in 2024/25 with the one different defeats coming to Actual Sociedad and Villarreal in La Liga.
With tomorrow’s conflict scheduled on the Catalans’ den, Actual Madrid can’t take something as a right. In spite of everything, Espanyol gamers have spoken at size concerning the further vitality and can come out all weapons blazing.
The mainstay returns
Vinicius Jr.’s January has not been nice by any measure, not to mention by his astronomical requirements. Sporting efficiency apart, the Brazilian has not featured half as a lot as he would have favored to for Actual Madrid.
Whereas certainly he scored a particular brace in opposition to RB Salzburg and racked up one objective in opposition to Celta Vigo, the participant was despatched off in Los Blancos’ La Liga conflict in opposition to Valencia earlier within the month and thus noticed himself suspended for 2 matches.
The Brazilian thus sat out the staff’s video games in opposition to Las Palmas and Actual Valladolid within the competitors. He was not allowed to take part within the remaining matchday in opposition to Brest within the UEFA Champions League owing to a suspension in that event.
After erratic sport time, the winger will return to the dynamics tomorrow and will likely be thrilled to have his star man again. With Vinicius, nonetheless, comes the inevitable choice dilemma.
Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo have feasted on the left wing in latest video games and have seemed in the very best type they’ve been this season.
It thus stays to be seen how Vinicius’ return impacts the formation, however there may be purpose to be optimistic about seeing all three star forwards on music collectively tomorrow.
By no means wanted momentum extra
Los Blancos are on a superb run of type with 12 wins of their final 14 video games and the one defeat coming to Barcelona within the remaining of the Spanish Tremendous Cup.
February, nonetheless, threatens to be a gruelling month and Actual Madrid want all of the momentum they’ll get earlier than it cracks on given the formidable opposition they’re set to face.
Tomorrow’s sport in opposition to Espanyol, in some ways, will set the tone for a sequence of challenges that lie forward for the defending champions throughout competitions.
In spite of everything, they subsequent head away to Leganes the place they may play a knockout fixture within the Copa del Rey the place the winner takes all of it.
They then host Atletico Madrid at dwelling in what will likely be a top-of-the-table La Liga conflict and a vastly decisive one for the league standings.
Instantly after the derby, the gruelling schedule continues with two back-to-back video games in opposition to Manchester Metropolis within the UEFA Champions League playoff solely separated by a visit away to El Sadar.
Contemplating that Girona and Actual Betis are Los Blancos’ subsequent two oppositions after the aforementioned schedule, it’s protected to say that the subsequent month could effectively have huge implications for Actual Madrid’s season.
