Real Madrid vs Espanyol Preview

Real Madrid are heading into a new month without a win at home – something that no one saw coming when they were cruising last season as well as the start of this new season.

They have reason to be positive ahead of this game as Espanyol remain a team they can beat any day and their midweek Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund will have boosted their morale ahead of this match.

One cause of concern for Real Madrid in this game will be the struggle of their attacking players when they face off with teams that park the bus.

The likes of Christiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale usually struggle against teams like this but Zinedine Zidane will be planning a strategy that can help them breakthrough in this game.

Espanyol have impressed over the past year under the leadership of former Watford Manager Quiques Sanchez Flores.

They head into this game with a credible 7 points from their last 3 games.

In Pablo Piatti they have a talisman that is capable of providing individual moments of magic to stun the Bernabeu.

He scored 10 goals in the league last season and has started this season well.

He will no doubt be motivated by the big game environment and Real Madrid’s poor defence in this game.

Espanyol have lost all 10 of their last 10 meetings with Madrid scoring only 2 goals in those matches.

Results of each team’s last 5 matches across all leagues and competitions

Real Madrid

LAST FIVE GAMES						DATE	COMPETITION
W	Alavés		1-2		Real Madrid	Sep 23, 2017	Spanish Primera División
L	Real Madrid		0-1		Real Betis	Sep 20, 2017	Spanish Primera División
W	Real Sociedad		1-3		Real Madrid	Sep 17, 2017	Spanish Primera División
W	Real Madrid		3-0		Apoel Nicosia	Sep 13, 2017	UEFA Champions League
D	Real Madrid		1-1		Levante	Sep 9, 2017	Spanish Primera División

Espanyol 

LAST FIVE GAMES						DATE	COMPETITION
W	Espanyol		4-1		Deportivo La Coruña	Sep 24, 2017	Spanish Primera División
D	Villarreal		0-0		Espanyol	Sep 21, 2017	Spanish Primera División
W	Espanyol		2-1		Celta Vigo	Sep 18, 2017	Spanish Primera División
L	Barcelona		5-0		Espanyol	Sep 9, 2017	Spanish Primera División
L	Espanyol		0-1		Leganes	Aug 27, 2017	Spanish Primera División

H2H

LAST FIVE GAMES					DATE	COMPETITION
Real Madrid		2-0		Espanyol	Feb 18, 2017	Spanish Primera División
Espanyol		0-2		Real Madrid	Sep 18, 2016	Spanish Primera División
Real Madrid		6-0		Espanyol	Jan 31, 2016	Spanish Primera División
Espanyol		0-6		Real Madrid	Sep 12, 2015	Spanish Primera División
Espanyol		1-4		Real Madrid	May 17, 2015	Spanish Primera División

Other fixtures taking place this week in the Spanish Primera:

Spanish Primera Table

Spanish Primera Results