Real Madrid will go seven points clear at the top of the La Liga table with a 16th victory of the season away at relegation-threatened Espanyol
ESL vs RM Match Details
Date: Saturday, 1 February 2025 / Sunday, 2 February 2025
Time: 21:00 (CET), 01:30 (IST)
Venue: RCDE Stadium, Barcelona
ESL vs RM Match Preview
Even though Espanyol are just a point away from safety sitting in the first relegation spot, their chequered form could plummet them back into the second division gaining promotion to the top flight only last season. Manolo Gonzalez's side has picked up just one win in the previous seven league matches, adding to their woes. However, the team will at least count on the fact that they are unbeaten in 2025 with a win and two draws the latest of which came against Sevilla last weekend. Espanyol have also beaten only once in their previous seven home games, which will motivate them as they take on holders and leaders Real Madrid in the first game of February. The side has picked up three wins and three draws in that period not conceding more than one goal. Despite that, the charm of playing at home in this fixture does not always work for them with only two wins to show since 2010 with the last one arriving in their previous top-flight season, a 2-1 win in October 2021. The 24 overall losses to Los Blancos during this period do not reflect well on Espanyol desperate to secure a positive result from this match.
Real Madrid eased past Brest by 3-0 in the final league phase game of the 2024-25 Champions League to end in the playoff spot and set up a spicy tie with Manchester City. Carlo Ancelotti's side won by the same scoreline against bottom-placed Real Valladolid in La Liga with Kylian Mbappé netting his first hat trick for the club. Two of the Frenchman’s strikes were assisted by Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo with both players scoring in midweek and the Brazilian netting a brace. All the attacking impetus came even without the suspended Vinicius Junior who returns this weekend for his side facing another relegation-threatened opponent in the league. Apart from the dismantling loss in the Super Cup final, Real Madrid has been a force to reckon with winning 11 of their last 12 matches in all competitions scoring an average of three goals per match. Also carrying the second-best away record in the league and secured a 3-1 victory in their last visit to Espanyol, points at only one outcome of the game which will help the side strengthen their hold at the top.
ESL vs RM Recent Form (all competitions)
RM: DWWWW
ESL vs RM Recent Form (La Liga)
ESL: DLDWD
RM: WWWWW
ESL vs RM Predicted Lineups
Espanyol
Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Carreras, Kral, Lozano, Tejero; Puado, Fernandez
Real Madrid
Courtois; Vazquez, Asencio, Rudiger, Mendy; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Rodrygo, Mbappe, Vinicius
ESL vs RM Dream11 Match Prediction
The scoring prowess of Los Blancos will eventually break the stubborn Espanyol defence, securing all three points. We predict another 3-0 win for the visitors.
ESL vs RM Dream11 Top picks
Captain Pick: Kylian Mbappé
Vice-captain Picks: Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo
Alternative: Vinicius Junior
ESL vs RM Dream11 Team Suggestion

GK: Garcia (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 291)
DEF: Vazquez (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 450), Rudiger (Cr - 8, Pts - 597), Cabrera (Cr - 8, Pts - 136), El Hilali (Cr - 7.5, Pts - 177)
MID: Tejero (Cr - 8, Pts - 191), Bellingham (Cr - 9, Pts - 939), Valverde (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 992)
FW: Rodrygo (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 792), Puardo (Cr - 8.5, Pts - 213), Mbappé (Cr - 9, Pts - 1155)
Vice-captain: Jude Bellingham
Captain: Kylian Mbappé