Key Takeaways
- Espanyol could secure the La Liga title for rivals Barcelona if they avoid defeat against Real Madrid.
- Real Madrid face a severe injury crisis with seven key players including Dani Carvajal and Kylian Mbappé ruled out.
- Young striker Gonzalo Garcia is tipped to make a rare start for the visitors amid the selection shortage.
Espanyol welcome Real Madrid to the RCDE Stadium on Sunday evening for an important La Liga match. The game starts at 21:00 local time. The home team are only five points above the relegation zone. They need points to stay in the top division. But if Espanyol get a good result, Barcelona will win the league title.
Real Madrid are fourteen points behind the leaders. The team has won only one of their last seven games. They also have many injured players. Dani Carvajal is the latest player to get hurt. He joins Thibaut Courtois, Kylian Mbappé, Arda Güler, Éder Militão and Rodrygo Goes on the injury list. Manager Álvaro Arbeloa does not have many players to choose from.
Mundo Deportivo says young striker Gonzalo García will start the match. This is a rare chance for him to play from the beginning. Aurélien Tchouaméni will return to midfield instead of Thiago Pitarch. Alvaro Carreras will play at left-back. But Diario AS thinks Pitarch might keep his place in the team. They also say Eduardo Camavinga could play.
Espanyol also have missing players. Cyril Ngonge and Javi Puado are injured. Pol Lozano cannot play because he is suspended. Coach Manolo González must choose between Kike García and Roberto Fernández to play as the main striker. Tyrhys Dolan will probably replace Ngonge. Urko González and Edu Expósito will play in the centre of midfield.
Espanyol have not won any of their sixteen games in 2026. They want to end this bad run against a Real Madrid side looking for only their second win since March.