Real Madrid go to Espanyol hoping to maintain their faint hopes within the LaLiga title race alive for another week.
Los Blancos path leaders Barcelona by 11 points with five games remaining, and that hole might be 14 by the point they kick off, with Hansi Flick’s men visiting Osasuna on Saturday.
If each Barca and Madrid prevail this weekend, then Hansi Flick’s aspect might clinch the title with a attract El Clasico subsequent weekend.
Ought to Madrid fail to win in Catalonia on Sunday, then the title race won’t even get that far.
Madrid will not be prone to follow coach Alvaro Arbeloa subsequent season and, although they are going to need to lengthen Barca’s wait so long as attainable, they’re arguably unlikely to have as a lot motivation as Espanyol.
Certainly, whereas Espanyol are thirteenth, they’re nonetheless solely 5 factors above the underside three and nonetheless have work to do to make sure their survival within the high flight.
Espanyol are winless of their final eight matches, however midfielder Edu Exposito gave coach Manolo Gonzalez his backing when chatting with the press on Thursday.
“We’re behind him and we’re going to offer it our all in these 5 matches,” Exposito stated.
“We all know we’ve got to win as a result of this second half of the season has been terrible for us. We’ve had some good video games, but additionally some dangerous luck. I perceive that the followers have excessive expectations. It’s regular. We’re calm and assured.”
Staff information for Espanyol v Actual Madrid
Madrid will probably be minus Kylian Mbappe due to a hamstring subject, whereas Rodrygo, Eder Militao and Arda Guler are all out for the remainder of the season.
Thibaut Courtois is as soon as once more anticipated to overlook out with a thigh harm, whereas Aurelien Tchouameni is a doubt due to a calf drawback.
Espanyol will probably be with out the suspended Pol Lozano and long-term absentee Javi Puado as a consequence of a knee harm.
