Real Madrid Open the Season Against Espanyol: Match Preview

On Saturday night, at 21:30 CEST, Real Madrid will finally get their season underway when they face RCD Espanyol away from home. 

The season was meant to start a week earlier, with a home game against Real Sociedad, but the club successfully requested to have the game postponed because of all the returning international players, and that game will now take place next midweek. 

So, what can we expect from tomorrow's game?

Espanyol will be full of confidence coming into this game, having won their opening game 3-0 against Levante. Last season, Real Madrid won both games 2-0, but the year before, a 1-0 win for Espanyol in this fixture seriously derailed the title challenge under Carlo Ancelotti. 

In Jose Mourinho's final season of his first spell in charge, back in 12/13, both games ended with a 1-1 draw, he will be hoping for a different result this time for his first game back at the club.

Real Madrid are the heavy favourites for this game, with Espanyol being credited with a 1 in 6 chance of winning by the bookmakers. Nevertheless, we all know these sort of games are never easy. It will be interesting to see if already playing a game will help them in terms of sharpness, or will Los Blancos be a bit fresher? 

When it comes to dangermen, striker Roberto Fernandez scored twice against Levante, having scored in their final pre-season game, and will be full of confidence. Left winger Tyrhys Dolan also scored in that game, and will be a tough test against his compatriot Trent Alexander-Arnold or Denzel Dumfries. 

There will be quite a few players making their debut for Real Madrid tomorrow. As touched on there, Dumfries could start at right-back, whilst Ibrahima Konate could come in alongside Dean Huijsen in central defence. Marc Cucurella is very likely to start at left back, so that could be 75% of the back four making their debuts. 

It feels like Bernardo Silva will make his debut from the start too, partnering Federico Valverde in central midfield, as well as Yan Diomande on the right wing. We could see Carlos Espi be the one who makes his debut from the bench in the second half, depending on the game state at the time, but let's wait and see. 

Will not be an easy game, but one you would expect Real Madrid to win without too many issues,