Real Madrid vs. Espanyol: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape La Liga Game
Real Madrid welcome Espanyol to the Bernabeu this weekend as they look to find their feet again after back-to-back defeats to Valencia and Atletico Madrid.
Los Blancos maintain a one-point advantage at the top of the table, though, and still have a game in hand over Barcelona and Atletico, who are both on 38 points.
Espanyol, meanwhile, sit just inside the top half, although they were disappointing in their defeat to Elche last week, which was their first defeat at home in eight games.
Their away form has been a completely different story, though, and their win at Rayo Vallecano before the Christmas break was their first on the road all season.
Over the following slides, B/R takes a look at the issues and decisions that will play a part in Saturday's match.
Getting Back to Winning Ways
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Away games at the Vicente Calderon and Mestalla were always going to represent a difficult start to the new year for Real Madrid.
They may not have anticipated losing them both, though.
With their 22-game winning run now brought to an end, they need to regain focus when Espanyol visit the Bernabeu this weekend.
If anything, that winning run may have made them more of a target than they already are—especially for clubs like Valencia and Atletico.
Presuming they win their game in hand, they could eventually open up a four-point gap on Barca and Atleti—who play each other this Sunday.
They're wounded, but they're certainly not in a crisis, and a win against Barcelona's second team should get them going again.
Breaking Espanyol Down
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Last season, Espanyol beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 at home and lost to them away 1-0.
Barca beat them twice, but only just—on both occasions, the Catalan derby was settled by a 1-0 scoreline.
Madrid encountered similar problems.
They played Espanyol three times last January, twice in the Copa del Rey and once in the league, and won each clash by one goal to none.
It looked set to be the same in the final game of the season.
In the 85th minute, Los Blancos led 1-0, but three goals in the final five minutes meant Carlo Ancelotti's side closed out a 3-1 win.
In short, Espanyol have provided stubborn opposition for La Liga's big clubs recently.
They have changed their manager since then, though, and Sergio Gonzalez's side were thumped 5-1 at Camp Nou earlier this season despite taking an early lead.
But with Victor Sanchez and Jose Canas sat in front of the back four, and Kiko Casillas in goal, they're still an organised team.
Madrid may have to display patience.
Cristiano Ronaldo Starts
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Carlo Ancelotti confirmed in his pre-game press conference, per Real Madrid's Twitter feed, on Friday that Cristiano Ronaldo will start against Espanyol.
The Portuguese forward was left on the bench on Wednesday night and Madrid lacked a spark against Atletico.
With 26 league goals to his name, though, he is chasing Lionel Messi's record haul of 50 in a single league season and will see Espanyol as prey with which to improve his tally.
Sergio Gonzalez can have his team as organised as he wants, sometimes you just can't account for a goal-hungry Ronaldo.
No Lucas Vazquez
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One of the finer aspects of Espanyol's season has been 23-year-old winger Lucas Vazquez.
Unfortunately he will play no part at the Bernabeu—he is on loan from Real Madrid and the agreement between the clubs restricts him from playing.
His two goals and three assists in La Liga this season will be of no use here.
But Los Pericos do have other threats, and captain Sergo Garcia has been in splendid form this season.
He's already scored seven times in the league, including in the Catalan derby, and has also produced four assists.
Support also comes in the form of Christian Stuani and Felipe Caicedo.
The Uruguayan Stuani has started just nine games this season but has proved a real super sub, scoring nine times already in his 19 appearances in all competitions—10 of which have come from the bench.
Caicedo, a summer signing, has hit the net four times.
Rest for Ramos
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Madrid boss Ancelotti confirmed on Friday that Sergio Ramos will take a rest when Los Blancos welcome Espanyol to the Bernabeu on Saturday, per Spanish publication Marca.
Everything else, the Italian hinted, will be similar.
That should mean Iker Casillas in front of a back four of Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Pepe and Marcelo, who made a quick return from injury last weekend.
Isco, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez will then presumably be in the middle, with Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema up top.
It's a strong line-up, and one which should have enough power to overcome Espanyol.
