Real Madrid travels to the RCDE Stadium as they go head-to-head against Espanyol in a La Liga matchday 34 clash on Sunday night.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s men are currently in second position in the league table and anything other than a win will make Barcelona the La Liga champion this season with four matches remaining.
Espanyol vs Real Madrid – Match preview and team news
- Date: Sunday, 3rd May.
- Kick-off: 8pm BST.
- Venue: RCDE Stadium, Cornella de Llobregat.
Espanyol team news
Espanyol faces its own set of selection headaches. The most notable issue is the absence of Pol Lozano, who is serving a suspension following his recent dismissal against Levante.
Offensively, the Parquitos are hampered by the continued absence of Javi Puado, who remains out with a long-term knee injury, and a fresh concern regarding Cyril Ngonge.
Ngonge is a late doubt after picking up a knee contusion during Saturday’s final training session. Despite these setbacks, manager Manolo Gonzalez is expected to rely on the veteran presence of Kike Garcia up front with support from Pere Milla from the side.
Real Madrid team news
Real Madrid enters this clash grappling with a severe injury crisis that has depleted every department.
Alvaro Arbeloa is missing forward Kylian Mbappe, who remains sidelined with a hamstring strain, and captain Dani Carvajal, who recently suffered a fractured toe in training.
The defensive line is further weakened by the long-term absence of Eder Militao, while Rodrygo and Arda Güler are also set to miss the remainder of the campaign.
In midfield, Aurelien Tchouameni is a doubt as well due to a persistent calf issue, but he will be assessed before the kick-off.
While Thibaut Courtois has returned to training, the technical staff is expected to start Andriy Lunin to ensure the Belgian is fully fit for the upcoming Clásico.
Gonzalo Garcia is expected to lead the line while Vinicius Junior and Brahim Díaz will join him in the attack through the flanks.
Form
Espanyol
The Parakeets are enduring a shocking winless run of 16 matches, failing to record a single victory in 2026. After a strong start to the season, they have plummeted to 12th place, sitting only five points above the relegation zone. Their recent results include a 0-0 draw against Levante and a 0-1 loss to Rayo Vallecano.
Real Madrid
Los Blancos have experienced a significant slump in form, winning just once in their last four league games (W1, D2, L1). Their most recent outing was a frustrating 1-1 draw against Real Betis, where they conceded a 94th-minute equaliser. This dip has left them 11 points behind league leaders Barcelona, making this fixture a must-win to prevent their rivals from clinching the title this weekend.
Predicted lineups
Espanyol: Dmitrovic; El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Gonzalez, Exposito; Ngonge, Terrats, Milla; K Garcia
Real Madrid: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Mendy; Valverde, Bellingham, Camavinga; Diaz, G Garcia, Vinicius
How to watch Espanyol vs Real Madrid?
Fans from the United Kingdom can watch the match on Premier Sports 1.
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