Real Madrid are fresh off of a 4-3 loss to Manchester City in a fantastic Champions League semifinal first leg.
Los Blancos gave themselves a lifeline to come back against Manchester City in the second leg next week.
🧊 ICE IN HIS VEINS.🔝 @Benzema#UCL pic.twitter.com/Ln6HDxltAP— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) April 29, 2022
🧊 ICE IN HIS VEINS.🔝 @Benzema#UCL pic.twitter.com/Ln6HDxltAP
Carlo Ancelotti’s team will face off with Espanyol in La Liga play before facing Man City in the semifinal second leg. Espanyol are 13th in the La Liga standings after 33 games. Nine points currently separate Espanyol from the relegation zone.
Real Madrid are on a four-match winning streak in La Liga. Los Blancos can win the La Liga title this weekend with a victory over Espanyol.
Anything less than a win and Real Madrid will have to wait until Sunday’s games to finish before they could be crowned champions.
Los Blancos are the form team in La Liga with 15 points taken from the last 18 points available. They scored 13 goals and conceded eight times in the last six matches.
Espanyol are on a two-match losing streak in La Liga. The Parakeets picked up seven points from the last 18 points on offer in the division. Goals were scarce at Espanyol as just four were scored in their last six games.
The Parakeets won the reverse fixture against Real Madrid 2-1. It was a shock result as Espanyol were up 2-0 by the 60-minute mark courtesy of Raul de Tomas and Aleix Vidal. De Tomas is a former Real Madrid B striker.
Real Madrid’s lone goal came with the team down two goals. Karim Benzema scored in the 71st minute to make the game look closer than it was.
Los Blancos may have lost the reverse fixture, but they have a strong head-to-head record against Espanyol. Real Madrid have a record of 13W-0D-2L across the last 15 matches in all competitions versus Espanyol.
Nacho Fernandez and Eder Militao will both miss the match through suspension for Madrid. David Alaba was removed in midweek due to a muscle injury. He will miss the match with Espanyol. Mariano Diaz and Luka Jovic are both doubts to make the squad on Saturday.
Espanyol’s Keidi Bare will miss the match on Saturday. He is the only absence Espanyol currently have for the match. Despite losing the reverse fixture, Real Madrid should pick up a win at home against Espanyol.
Real Madrid should win the match by a 3-0 scoreline to clinch the league title. Los Blancos will then turn their attention back to winning the semifinal of the Champions League against Man City.