Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the La Liga match.
In the seven games of this season, Real Madrid have secured five wins, and they come into the match against Espanyol on the back of a Champions League win. Against Stuttgart (3:1), Real Madrid demonstrated the strength of their bench, which prevented the German club from making a comeback in the final minutes.
Real Madrid
During the autumn stretch, Real Madrid had an impressive series of three victories with a combined score of 7:1. In the game against Stuttgart, they pressed into the opponent's penalty area in the final minutes, with a crucial goal coming from a corner kick by central defender Antonio Rüdiger. Against Stuttgart, Real Madrid registered 2.74 xG with 8 shots on target, and it seems they could have scored 1-2 more goals. In terms of expected goals, the team ranks among the top 3 in La Liga (10.72 xG) — only Atlético Madrid (11.26) and Barcelona (14.96) have more.
Espanyol
Espanyol, following their return to the Primera Division, have performed reasonably well. The club has secured a mid-table position with two wins, but they allow too many chances around their goal. With five goals conceded, they have 9.24 xGA — top-tier opponents will not forgive such mistakes.
Real Madrid vs Espanyol Prediction
In the last 10 years, in 9 matches between Real Madrid and Espanyol in Madrid, the home side have scored 3 or more goals on 5 occasions. Currently, Real Madrid boast a phenomenal attack that will dismantle the opponent's defence in front of their home fans and score at least three times.
