Espanyol vs Real Madrid: La Liga Preview

It’s Jornada 7 and Real Madrid travel to Estadi Cornella-El Prat to take on a distinctly underpar Espanyol. Espanyol have generally been the “better” Catalan opponents to Real Madrid; better meaning more classy and more likely to lose. Being known as Real Club Deportivo Espanyol de Barcelona (Royal Spanish Sports Club of Barcelona) is enough to turn a few heads in the distinctly anti-nationalistic Catalan territory. Most Catalans, as a rule, do not identify themselves to be Spanish…but rather Catalan and the royal patronage (the word Real means Royal and is a title conferred by the Spanish king to certain football clubs) handed to Espanyol only serves to instigate this feeling. But Espanyol started out as a true Catalan club and to be sure, in the past, Espanyol has almost always fielded a more Catalan line-up than their illustrous, self-proclaimed Angels of Football and Pioneers of Youth Academies, Barcelona. However in recent times, this has changed due to the success of La Masia and the financial difficulties that Espanyol face.

Espanyol, along with Real Betis & Ahletico Madrid are clubs which historically have given Barcelona a lot of problems at crucial times in the season. The 2006-07 season serves as a good reminder when Raul Tamudo scored that goal to effectively deny Barcelona the title, which obviously went to Real Madrid. However, Real Madrid have had their fair share of pain against Espanyol as well. We’ve more often than not, been made to feel that the 90 minutes against Espanyol are too long with the Catalan club giving it their best shot. Last season, Real managed only a meagre 1-0 win at the Cornella-El Prat with Marcelo scoring the winner after a right footed shot from outside the box.

Head to Head

Stats courtesy goalzz dot com

As can be seen from the head to head results of Espanyol against Real Madrid, we’ve had a great record against Espanyol in recent times in terms of results. We’ve drawn just once and won all the games so far. However, past fixture results serve only as a testament to what’s happened and not as a tool to speculate what shall be, especially given the fact that both Real’s and Espanyol’s current form leaves a lot to be desired.

Team News

RCD Espanyol

Mauricio Pochettino’s side has stuttered in the opening few weeks of La Liga and are currently in 10^th position in the league. They haven’t been able to manage a single draw and have won only 2 of their fxtures, both at home. While the club eked out a 1-0 win against Getafe, they went to pieces against Levante, who incidentally faced Espanyol after defeating Real Madrid. Despite having a majority share of possession against Levante, Espanyol couldn’t stem the swift counters from Levante which resulted in tempers being flared with the master provocateur Walter Pandiani and Jordi Amat both getting their marching order amidst a slew of yellow cards for the Catalan side.

Espanyol lack a quality finisher and Pandiani at 35 years of age isn’t getting any younger. Hence Pochettino will look to park the team bus against Real Madrid playing with twin banks of 4 against us and try to salvage a point. And not without good reason too.

Form Chart: L-W-L-W-L

Real Madrid

Real Madrid come off a mid week 3 goal annihilation of Ajax, with each of their 3 goals special. The first one was a completely 1 touch team effort combining 5 players with 11 touches of the ball and scored in 9 seconds. The second was a combination of two of the most expensive footballers in the world, and resulted in Kaka’s comeback goal. The third was scored after 43 passes were completed. These impressive statistics notwithstanding, Real Madrid face a stern test as they return back to Primera action.

The club’s league form has been woeful of late. The 6-2 win against Rayo Vallecano was one of the most unconvincing 6-2 wins that you can ever see with Rayo dominating the scene for more than 3/4^th of the match before their spirit and defence, both ran to the ground. Prior to that, the club had won drawn against a poor Racing side and lost to Levante. Most of Real’s training regime in the pre-season was focused on mastering counter attacking, which the goals against Rayo and Ajax can testify that they have achieved. However, a combination of poor defending, the lack of a reference in the box due to the absence of Higuain in the starting line-up and a general lack of ideas while playing vertically and horizontally when in possession has ensured the Real Madrid have done little to trouble the oppositions which park their bus in front of goal. Given this fact, the match against Espanyol at a hostile ground would serve as a good test for the team to prove their mettle and talent.

Form Chart: W-W-D-L-W

Expected Line-ups

Espanyol

Formation: 4-4-1-1

Jordi Amat & Walter Pandiani are out due to suspensions picked up against Levante. Juan Albin & Felipe Mattioni are out with injury. Sergio Garcia, with 2 goals in 5 games has been their most prolific player and with the medium or little goal threat that Espanyol possess, Real Madrid should be wary of his counters and also the combination of Verdu & Romaric, one of whom will have to play with his back to goal and rely on the other to surge forward.

Expected Starting XI: Cristian Alvarez, Didac Vila, Hector Moreno, Juan Forlin, Ernesto Galan, Javi Marquez, Javier Rodriguez, Sergio Garcia, Rui Fonte, Verdu, Romaric

Real Madrid

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Given the poor league form, Jose Mourinho will go for his strongest line-up yet and a repeat of the same starting 11 that played against Ajax shall serve. Pepe & Coentrao look set to miss the match, while Ricardo Carvalho & Benzema are also doubtful to make the team sheet in time. The master class performances of Varane & Albiol against Ajax will ensure that this CB partnership will continue. Marcelo returns back to the fray and hence Arbeloa will make way for the better attacking wingback.

Verdict if still out on which two players will Mourinho play out of Di Maria, Ozil & Kaka. My bet would be that given their strong performance of late and the fact that Espanyol will sit back, Mourinho will start Ozil & Kaka. Higuain will have to take the striker’s role in case Benzema doesn’t make it in time and make it count this time, after having looked under-par almost whenever he’s played this season.

Prediction

Espanyol will in all probability park the team bus in front of goal, hence Real Madrid will have to be inventive throwing everything at the bus, including the kitchen sink and hope that some windows break and they are able to score through those gaps.

0-1 to Real Madrid.

This piece was written by Anotherprickinthewall. You can follow him on twitter @prickinthewall