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The defending league champions have burst into life in recent weeks after kicking off the calendar year with a second drubbing of the season against rivals Barcelona.
A mouth-watering Champions League tie with Manchester City was Madrid’s reward for putting RB Salzburg and Brest to the sword in recent weeks, but the whoopings have been extended to Copa del Rey and La Liga action too.
Celta Vigo, Las Palmas and Real Valladolid have all been swept aside lately, in an ominous show of form from Madrid. Victory here over an Espanyol side desperately struggling to score goals, will maintain at least a four-point advantage over Atletico Madrid and a six-point gap to Barcelona at the top.
Here is 90min’s guide to the game.
Brian Olivan is a major doubt for the hosts after being forced off against Sevilla in Espanyol’s last La Liga game., with Carlos Romero his likely replacement at left-back.
Salvi Sanchez and Jose Gragera, who has a broken finger, are still sidelined but a debut could be handed to forward Roberto Fernandez after his arrival from Braga on loan.
Espanyol predicted lineup vs Real Madrid (4-4-2): Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Carreras, Kral, Lozano, Tejero; Puado, Fernandez
Real Madrid’s injury problems are reducing with each passing week, though versatile midfielder Eduardo Camavinga is still nursing a hamstring issue.
David Alaba is fully fit and ready to be thrust back into action, but the Austrian’s minutes will be managed carefully by Carlo Ancelotti to ensure he’s fit and available for tougher tests than this one.
Raul Asencio should get another start alongside Antonio Rudiger as a result, flanked at full-back by Lucas Vazquez and Ferland Mendy. Long-term casualties Dani Carvajal and Eder Militao are the only two …
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