Real Madrid hosts Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on matchday five of the 2025/25 La Liga season on Saturday, 20 September 2025. The highly anticipated clash kicks off at 16:15 (SAST).
Real Madrid and Espanyol are two of only four clubs that have not been beaten in La Liga this season. Will Espanyol end Los Blancos’ winning streak in the league, or will Xabi Alonso’s side end Los Periquitos’ unbeaten run in the league?
Alonso’s charges have won four out of four league matches and are at the top of the table with 12 points. Real Madrid have only two points more than the reigning champions and arch-rivals, Barcelona.
Xabi is well aware of this and knows that a win against Espanyol will cement their spot at the top. On the other hand, Manolo González also wants to keep up with the top teams on the league table.
A draw at the Bernabéu will be a satisfactory result for Espanyol. A win in the clash will take González’s side to 13 points, one point more than Real Madrid.
Real Madrid vs Espanyol: Who Are the Key Players?
Kylian Mbappé is certainly one of the best players in Real Madrid’s starting XI. The French superstar has scored four goals in four 2025/26 La Liga matches. The in-form Mbappé also recently scored a brace in Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League opener.
Carlos Romero is arguably one of the key players for Espanyol in this match after Pere Milla’s recent red card. Romero has tasted victory against Real Madrid this year. He has also scored against the Spanish giants.
In his first four La Liga matches this campaign, the Spanish footballer has scored one goal and provided one assist.
Real Madrid Latest Results
A 10-man Real Madrid edged French club Olympique de Marseille 2-1 in their UEFA Champions League opener on 16 September 2025. Marseille’s Timothy Weah scored the first goal in the 22nd minute. Kylian Mbappe equalised from the penalty spot in the 29th minute.
Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal was sent off in the 72nd minute for headbutting Marseille’s goalkeeper. With one man down, Alonso’s side continued fighting until they got a penalty in the last 10 minutes of the clash. Mbappé scored Real’s second goal from the spot in the 81st minute.
In their last La Liga match on 13 September 2025, a 10-man Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-1. Mbappé netted his side’s first goal of the match in the 12th minute. Dean Huijsen received a red card after holding an opponent in the 32nd minute.
Despite being a man lighter, Arda Güler scored Real Madrid’s second goal in the 44th minute after Mbappé turned provider. In Sociedad’s comeback attempt, Mikel Oyarzabal made it 2-1 from the penalty spot in the 56th minute. Madrid defended their one-goal advantage until the final whistle.
Also Read: Real Madrid hold on to 2-1 win against Mallorca after 3 disallowed goals
How Did Espanyol Perform in Their Last Two La Liga Matches?
Espanyol collected six points in their last two league matches. The Los Pericos edged Mallorca 3-2 at the RCDE Stadium on 15 September 2025. Pere Milla scored Espanyol’s first goal of the game in the 20th minute.
Roberto Fernandez Jaen made it 2-0 in the 34th minute. Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi pulled one back from the spot in the 45th minute. Just before halftime, Milla was given a red card for insulting the referee.
In the second half, Muriqi levelled the score when he scored his second goal of the night in the 65th minute. Despite being a man down, Espanyol scored a winner in the 81st minute when Kike Garcia converted from the spot.
In another match on 31 August 2025, Espanyol beat the visiting Osasuna 1-0 on matchday three of La Liga. Carlos Romero scored the winner in the 52nd minute of the tie. The goalkeepers had a busy day in the match that produced seven shots on target.
Also Read: Espanyol 3-2 Mallorca – Manolo González’s side maintains unbeaten run in La Liga despite red card
Real Madrid vs Espanyol: Head-to-Head in La Liga
In their last La Liga match on 1 February 2025, Espanyol took all three points after edging Real Madrid 1-0 at the RCDE Stadium. Carlos Romero scored a late winner for Espanyol in the 85th minute of the Round 22 clash.
Real dominated the match with 76% of ball possession and a whopping seven shots on target. Joan Garcia made seven terrific saves for Espanyol. One of Kylian Mbappe’s shots from the six-yard box hit the right post in the 51st minute.
In Round 6 of La Liga on 21 September 2024, Real Madrid put on a show at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium when they demolished Espanyol 4-1. Espanyol took the lead in the 54th minute after Thibaut Courtois unfortunately put the ball in his own net.
After the Courtois error, Los Blancos were all over Espanyol. Dani Carvajal equalised in the 58th minute and Rodrygo scored Real’s lead in the 75th minute. Vinícius Júnior made it 3-1 in the 78th minute, and Kylian Mbappé scored his side’s last goal from the spot in the 90th minute.
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