Real Madrid vs Espanyol preview - Romaric believes in Real chance of upset

Espanyol midfielder Ndri Romaric insists his stuttering side are not daunted at facing runaway Primera Division leaders Real Madrid and believes they are capable of breaching the capital club's Bernabeu fortress.

Madrid have won nine successive league matches to open up a 10-point lead over Barcelona at the summit and they are firm favourites to add another victory against Espanyol.

Jose Mourinho's side have won 13 of their last 14 league games at the Bernabeu stretching back to last season, during which they have averaged well over four goals per game.

Espanyol, meanwhile, have taken just two points from their last four outings - including home defeats to Real Zaragoza and Levante.

Despite all that though, Romaric is in an optimistic mood ahead of the trip to Madrid, recalling the time he helped his former club Sevilla claim a stunning 4-3 win at the Bernabeu just over three years ago.

"In football we all know that it's possible to win. I've won at the Bernabeu with Sevilla and with Espanyol we can win without any problem. We are going there without fear, we are convinced we can do it," said the Ivory Coast international.

"We will stick to our football philosophy and even though it's against a great team we will treat it as a normal match.

"We want to win to help us get as high as possible in the table, not to help anyone else," he added, referring to the fact that an Espanyol victory this weekend could in turn aid their arch rivals Barcelona.

Romaric also played down his side's poor recent form, which has seen them slip to eighth in the standings, although they are still only two points off the top four.

"For me there isn't any problem and we are calm. There's no crisis, it's only two games at Cornella-El Prat which we haven't won," he said in AS.

Madrid, whose current tally of 64 points after the opening 24 games of the season is a club record, were somewhat fortunate to continue their winning streak last week when they edged past neighbours Rayo Vallecano 1-0.

Mourinho will be hoping for an easier time of it on Sunday, but he has a number of players absent for the visit of Espanyol.

Left-back Fabio Coentrao is set to be out for three weeks after pulling up with an abductor muscle injury in Portugal's 0-0 draw with Poland.

The league leaders are already without Karim Benzema and Angel Di Maria through injury, while Pepe is suspended.

Espanyol manager Mauricio Pochettino has Romaric available after suspension and will also be able to call on Sergio Garcia for the first time since January.