Real Madrid will be aiming to cut down the gap to arch-rivals Barcelona when they take on RCD Espanyol in La Liga in under a couple of hours at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Having registered three back-to-back wins across all competitions, Carlo Ancelotti & co. will go into the game with confidence and momentum on their side.

Ahead of kickoff, the manager has announced the Real Madrid starting lineup that will be taking the field against the newly-promoted team at the Bernabeu.

Ancelotti has made some big changes to the team that took the field against VfB Stuttgart in the midweek UCL fixture.

The biggest of them all sees Vinicius Jr. getting benched in favour of Arda Guler in attack. Kylian Mbappe and Rodrygo Goes retain their places in the team.

Meanwhile, captain Luka Modric starts in midfield alongside Jude Bellingham and Federico Valverde for Los Blancos.

Modric’s introduction is because Aurelien Tchouameni has been handed a start at centre-back, with Ancelotti opting to rest Antonio Rudiger. Eder Militao returns to the side after starting on the bench in midweek.

Fran Garcia replaces Ferland Mendy at left-back while Dani Carvajal retains his place on the right. Thibaut Courtois, the MVP from the midweek game, continues in goal.

Real Madrid vs Espanyol: Team Lineups

Real Madrid predicted XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Rüdiger, Mendy; Valverde, Modrić, Güler; Rodrygo, Mbappé, Vinícius

Espanyol predicted XI: J Garcia; El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera, Romero; Tejero, Kral, Aguado, Carreras; Puado, Veliz

Real Madrid vs Espanyol: How To Watch

For Fans in the United Kingdom, Real Madrid vs Espanyol can be seen on Premier Sports and Amazon Prime Video. Fans in Ireland can tune in via Sky Ireland's Sports Extra pack.

US-based fans will be able to see Real Madrid vs Espanyol on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.

Real Madrid vs Espanyol is a 21:00 CET kick-off, which is local time in Spain. That means fans in the UK and Ireland will find the game starting at 20:00 GMT.

Fans in the USA can tune in to watch Real Madrid vs Espanyol at 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT.

Real Madrid vs Espanyol: Preview

Real Madrid will look to extend its La Liga unbeaten streak to 38 games as the reigning Spanish champions take on Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Real Madrid’s return to domestic action comes just four days after a late-game comeback against Stuttgart in its Champions League opening fixture. Los Blancos collected all three points in a 3–1victory thanks to goals from Kylian Mbappé, Antonio Rüdiger and Endrick.

Now, Real Madrid must turn its attention back to La Liga where Ancelotti’s men already trail Barcelona by four points after five fixtures. Hansi Flick has the Catalans off to a perfect start in his first season in charge while Real Madrid stumbled in early matches against Mallorca and Las Palmas.

The 36-time La Liga champions found victories in all their September matches so far, though, despite an injury crisis that left Federico Valverde forced to play in a double pivot alongside Luka Modric last weekend. The return of Jude Bellingham and Aurélien Tchouaméni against Stuttgart gave Real Madrid a much-needed boost ahead of a busy schedule featuring six matches over the next three weeks.

Before Los Blancos can look ahead to the Madrid derby or their next Champions League match, they must get past Espanyol on Saturday. Manolo Gonzalez’s side produced an impressive scoreless draw with Atletico Madrid and then went on to defeat Rayo Vallecano and Alaves.

Although the hosts still enter the fixture as the heavy favorites, Real Madrid has struggled to score from open play against a low block; four of Los Blancos’ nine La Liga goals this season have come from the spot. Plus, Ancelotti will likely rotate his starting XI to give recently returned players like Bellingham and Tchouaméni a rest to avoid overload. The Frenchman, in particular, was reportedly still dealing with discomfort in his foot during the mid-week UCL fixture.

Luka Modrić and Arda Güler could get the nod as Ancelotti works to keep his squad fit and fresh just one week out from Real Madrid’s clash with Atletico Madrid.

If Ancelotti really wants to rotate his XI, then Endrick, Fran García and Lucas Vázquez could also log significant minutes against Espanyol.

Real Madrid vs Espanyol kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 3 p.m. ET.

The Real Madrid Starting Lineup

Real Madrid are set to take on Espanyol in a Matchday 6 clash of the 2024/2025 La Liga season. Whether you’re watching on TV or streaming online, we’ve got you covered with all the essential details, including venue information and how to catch the action live in your country.

[Watch Real Madrid vs Espanyol live for FREE in the USA on Fubo]

Real Madrid are aiming to extend their winning streak as they seek to close the gap on La Liga leaders Barcelona, who have been flawless with five wins in their first five matches. Kylian Mbappe and company currently sit on 11 points, four behind their rivals, and understand the importance of securing a win to keep pace with the Catalan giants in the title race.

Espanyol, their next opponents, have had an inconsistent start to the season, but they aren’t in immediate danger. With seven points from a possible 15, the team has enough cushion to avoid relegation concerns for now. However, they recognize the need to rack up more points to ensure their place in the top flight.

Where to Watch

The match will be broadcast on ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes for US viewers.

Fans outside the US can find live coverage on their local networks including DAZN in Germany, Spain, and Italy, Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, and beIN Sports in other parts of the world.

Espanyol's Recent Form

Espanyol have started the season with a mixed bag of results, but they're not in immediate danger of relegation.

After an opening day loss against Valladolid, they faced Real Sociedad and lost again. The team has since drawn against Atletico Madrid and won against Alaves.

Real Madrid vs Espanyol: What to Expect

This match will be a great test for both teams. Real Madrid will be looking to continue their winning streak and keep the pressure on Barcelona. Espanyol will be looking to pull off an upset and prove that they belong in La Liga.

It's going to be a close match, but I think Real Madrid will come out on top.

Keep Up With the Game

Follow along with us for real-time updates, highlights, and analysis of the match throughout the game!

Real Madrid Vs. Espanyol: Game Day

The game is expected to be a tight affair.

The Big Story: Mbappe's Continued Rise at Real Madrid

The 2024-2025 season has seen Kylian Mbappe already making a significant impact for Real Madrid, quickly solidifying his place as a key player in the team's attack. He's started the season strong, scoring four goals in the first five matches and is expected to continue his stellar performance against Espanyol. It's a match where Mbappe's pace and goalscoring ability could be pivotal in dictating the game's outcome.

While Real Madrid is favored, Espanyol is no pushover. They are a team with the potential to upset Real Madrid.

Real Madrid Vs. Espanyol: Match Summary

The match is expected to be a tight affair.

The Big Story: Mbappe's Continued Rise at Real Madrid

The 2024-2025 season has seen Kylian Mbappe already making a significant impact for Real Madrid, quickly solidifying his place as a key player in the team's attack. He's started the season strong, scoring four goals in the first five matches and is expected to continue his stellar performance against Espanyol. It's a match where Mbappe's pace and goalscoring ability could be pivotal in dictating the game's outcome.

While Real Madrid is favored, Espanyol is no pushover. They are a team with the potential to upset Real Madrid.

The End

Real Madrid will be looking to secure a victory against Espanyol, building momentum going into next week's Madrid Derby. The match is expected to be close, with Real Madrid's attack potentially proving decisive. The game promises a compelling La Liga encounter, and we'll be here to provide you with all the updates, analysis, and highlights.