Espanyol vs Real Madrid: La Liga – prediction, lineups, teams

What the report says

Real Madrid open their La Liga season away to Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday, August 22, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30pm local time (19:30 GMT). Al Jazeera reports that the match marks Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid for a second spell, 16 years after his first appointment, as the club looks to challenge Barcelona for domestic supremacy again.

The report says Mourinho is being asked to bring more discipline and balance to a squad that has struggled to find the right blend between its attacking talent and defensive stability. Real Madrid have added several high-profile players in the summer, including Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella, while Al Jazeera notes that the club still has questions over midfield control after the departures of former key figures such as Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

Espanyol enter the game with some injury and suspension concerns, including absences for Kike Garcia, Javi Puado and Leandro Cabrera. Real Madrid also have several unavailable players, among them Eder Militao, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy, Endrick and Aurelien Tchouameni, while Jude Bellingham’s fitness is still being assessed. The article says Opta’s model makes Real Madrid clear favourites, and it also highlights the long history between the clubs: this will be their 202nd meeting.