Overview
- Live reports from La Vanguardia note slow Madrid buildup and early Espanyol comfort in their defensive shape after the 16:15 local kickoff.
- Real Madrid start Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Militao, Carreras; Mastantuono, Valverde, Tchouameni, Vinícius; Gonzalo and Mbappé, against Espanyol’s Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Pol Lozano, Urko González, Edu Expósito; Dolan, Roberto and Puado.
- Madrid top the table and remain unbeaten with Kylian Mbappé on six goals in five games, while Espanyol sit third and have not won at the Bernabéu since April 1996.
- Xabi Alonso said he wished he could select Dean Huijsen and argued that an acknowledged error over the Anoeta red card should carry consequences.
- Broadcasts list Movistar LaLiga in Spain and Sky Sports in Mexico, and RushBet pricing has Madrid heavily favored at -500, with the draw at +540 and Espanyol at +1400.