Espanyol hosts Real Madrid as Mourinho begins second stint
Real Madrid is set to begin its La Liga campaign against Espanyol this Saturday at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. This match marks the start of Jose Mourinho‘s second tenure as manager for Real Madrid, 16 years after his initial appointment. The game is scheduled for 9:30 PM local time (19:30 GMT).
Mourinho returns to the club with the aim of re-establishing Real Madrid as the dominant force in Spanish football, a task similar to his first spell from 2010-13. His return follows two seasons without a major trophy for the club, leading president Florentino Perez to bring him back. The 63-year-old coach has indicated he is a more mature and less emotional leader now, having gained experience in various leagues.
The club has made significant transfer moves this summer to bolster the squad. Ivorian winger Yan Diomande joined as a record signing for 140 million euros. Other notable arrivals include Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella. These signings are intended to provide Mourinho with the resources needed to compete for titles.
Squad and Absences for the Opener
Real Madrid has named a 23-man squad for the match, featuring all six of their summer signings: Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Yan Diomande, and Carlos Espí. These players could make their competitive debuts alongside established stars like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham.
However, Real Madrid faces several absences for the season opener. Eder Militao (muscle), Rodrygo (knee), Raul Asencio (thigh), Ferland Mendy (hip), Endrick (muscle), and Aurelien Tchouameni (muscle) are all unavailable. Jude Bellingham‘s match fitness is being assessed, and he may start from the bench. Morocco international Brahim Díaz is also part of the squad, having reportedly emerged as a favored option on the right flank during pre-season.
Espanyol also has its own injury concerns. Kike Garcia (hamstring), Javi Puado (knee), and Leandro Cabrera (suspended) will miss the match. Edu Exposito (muscle) will undergo a late fitness test following their 3-0 victory against Levante on the opening day.
Historical Context and Predictions
This upcoming match will be the 202nd encounter between Espanyol and Real Madrid. Historically, Real Madrid has a strong record, winning 119 of these meetings, while Espanyol has secured 46 victories. In La Liga, Real Madrid has won 110 of their meetings against Espanyol, drawing 33 and losing 37. This marks the most defeats Espanyol has suffered against any single opponent at home in the competition.
Real Madrid also holds an impressive record on La Liga‘s opening weekend, remaining unbeaten for 17 consecutive seasons, with 12 wins and five draws. Their last opening-day defeat occurred in August 2008 against Deportivo La Coruña. Sports analysts Opta predict Real Madrid as strong favorites for the match, with a 62.4 percent win probability compared to Espanyol‘s 15.6 percent.
Mourinho‘s first spell at Real Madrid was marked by intense rivalry with Pep Guardiola‘s Barcelona. His team eventually broke Barcelona‘s domestic dominance by winning the title in 2011-12 with a record 100 points. The first Clasico of the current campaign is scheduled for late October.
The predicted lineup for Espanyol includes Dmitrovic; El-Hilali, Riedel, Nunez, Hinojo; Gonzalez, Lozano; Calatrava, Hernandez, Dolan; and Fernandez. For Real Madrid, the predicted starting XI features Courtois; Dumfries, Huijsen, Konate, Cucurella; Valverde, Bernardo; Diaz, Guler, Vinicius; and Mbappe.
Source: aljazeera.com
