By Graham Ruthven
It’s occurring once more
We’ve been right here earlier than. What number of occasions have Actual Madrid slogged by the primary half of a season earlier than discovering prime gear within the new 12 months? On the premise of their current type, Los Blancos are repeating their favorite trick.
Carlo Ancelotti’s staff will arrive in Barcelona to tackle Espanyol this weekend on the again of 5 straight wins in all competitions. Since shedding to Barca within the Spanish Supercopa, Actual Madrid have scored 20 objectives, averaging 4 objectives a recreation.
Sitting 4 factors clear on the prime of LaLiga, Saturday’s match is a chance for Actual Madrid to place additional distance between themselves and Barcelona who don’t face Alavés till Sunday afternoon. By then, the hole between the rivals may very well be 10 factors.
Whereas Espanyol are scrapping in opposition to the specter of relegation, Manolo’s staff have misplaced simply one among their final six matches. They’ve additionally gained simply as soon as over this stretch, however Los Periquitos have grow to be tougher to beat in current weeks.
Nonetheless, Actual Madrid will current a special kind of check. It is a match that would have important bearing on the highest and backside of the desk.
Key gamers
Javi Puado may pose the most important objective menace for Espanyol in opposition to the LaLiga table-toppers with veteran defender Leandro Cabrera charged with stopping Actual Madrid within the different route.
Carlos Romero is a key outlet down the left aspect, though the 23-year-old may very well be pressured into the left again place because of the harm to Brian Oliván. This might have an effect on Espanyol’s potential to get out from the again.
Considerations over Kylian Mbappé’s place within the Actual Madrid ahead line have properly and really pale away. The Frenchman has scored eight objectives in his final six video games in all competitions together with a hat-trick in final week’s comfy away win over Actual Valladolid. That is now Mbappé’s staff.
Rodrygo has equally been in glorious type of late, registering seven objective involvements in his final 4 outings. The Brazilian has been taking part in on the left aspect and so he’ll possible be shifted to the proper wing now that Vinícius Júnior is again from suspension.
Jude Bellingham is prospering within the free function he has been given by Ancelotti with the England worldwide again to his box-crashing greatest, scoring within the mid-week Champions League win over Brest.
Crew information
José Gragera and Salvi Sanchez will miss out by harm for Espanyol this weekend whereas Oliván is a doubt after being pressured off in opposition to Sevilla within the Catalans’ final league outing.
Roberto Fernández may very well be in line for a debut after becoming a member of on mortgage from Braga within the switch window.
Vinícius will make his return from suspension after lacking the final two LaLiga matches following his purple card in opposition to Valencia at the beginning of January.
David Alaba continues to be working his approach again to full health after lacking 13 months of motion by harm whereas Éder Militão stays a long-term absentee. Dani Ceballos can also be anticipated to be sidelined for this weekend’s journey to Catalonia.
Prediction
Espanyol have gotten tougher to beat however as soon as Madrid get happening a run just like the one they’re at present on, Ancelotti’s aspect are near-impossible to cease: Espanyol 0-2 Actual Madrid.
(Cowl picture from IMAGO)
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