Real Madrid vs Espanyol Prediction for 20 September 2025 - Football

🔈 Can the "Parakeets" extend their unbeaten run at the start of the season? The upcoming clash between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabéu is drawing significant attention and piquing the interest of neutral fans. The Catalan side has emerged as one of the early surprises of the season, having accumulated 10 points from 4 matches. Despite this impressive start, bookmakers are heavily favoring a decisive victory for Los Blancos, offering them tenfold odds.

Head-to-Head

📊 Espanyol's last away victory over Real Madrid dates back to the distant 1995/96 season (2-1). Since then, Los Blancos have remained unbeaten at home for 29 consecutive matches. However, in the previous La Liga campaign, the Catalans pulled off a sensational victory against the Galacticos at "Cornellà-El Prat" (1-0). Let's note the average scoring rate for each side over the last 10 head-to-head encounters: Los Blancos – 2.3, Periquitos – 0.8.

Real Madrid Team Overview

⚪ Xabi Alonso's squad is fiercely motivated to bring the Spanish championship back to the Santiago Bernabéu. Fortunately, Los Blancos have everything they need to achieve this goal: an ambitious coach hungry for major victories, a skilled roster, and a well-established management structure. Currently, the capital club remains the only team in Spain this season that hasn't dropped points—4 wins out of 4. Now, the Galacticos sit proudly at the top of the league and aim to solidify their position in the upcoming round.

📌 Midweek, Los Blancos played their first European match of the season against Marseille (2-1). Interestingly, Xabi Alonso's side occasionally played on the counter, effectively closing down spaces and disrupting their opponent's ball progression. This strategy was further aided by Dani Carvajal's sending off in the 72nd minute. Looking at possession stats: 57 to 43 in favor of Marseille. However, the xG figures tell a different story: 3.74 to 0.74 in favor of the Galacticos. The modern football approach Alonso is instilling at Real holds immense potential not only in the long term but also in the immediate future.

Espanyol Barcelona Team Overview

⚪ Manolo Gonzalez is no less ambitious this season. Espanyol have truly stunned the public with their four-match unbeaten streak at the start of the season. Notably, the "Parakeets" haven't faced any outright underdogs – their victory over Atletico Madrid (2-1) in the opening round of the league stands out. With 10 points to their name, Espanyol currently sit third in the La Liga standings. However, Espanyol fans might be concerned about a developing trend – the club have failed to secure a win in their last five away matches.

🔵 In the previous round, Espanyol managed to secure a hard-fought victory over Mallorca (3-2). Despite squandering a two-goal lead during the match, and playing the second half with ten men after Pere Milla was sent off, the Catalan side showcased their character by delivering a decisive strike in the 81st minute. Manolo Gonzalez's squad is renowned for their physical fitness and maintaining high intensity throughout the match. This enables the "Parakeets" to stay focused and balanced across all lines until the final whistle.

Latest news

Real Madrid

🎤 Xabi Alonso reflected on his team's performance following their recent European victory over Marseille (2-1): "A lot happened during the game. We played well in the first 30 minutes, creating plenty of chances and could have taken the lead, but conceded instead. The game then became more balanced. In the second half, we attacked but didn't create as many opportunities. I felt we were grinding it out until Carvajal's sending off complicated things. We showed Champions League spirit at the Bernabeu, and the 2-1 scoreline allowed us to defend with ten men and secure three crucial points. We intercepted the ball several times in the opponent's half and transitioned quickly, but it was a very good game overall. The pace slowed in the second half, and after the sending off, it took a different turn."

❌ In the treatment room for Los Blancos are Trent Alexander-Arnold (hamstring injury), Ferland Mendy (hamstring injury), and Antonio Rüdiger (hip injury). Additionally, Dean Heisen will miss the upcoming La Liga clash due to suspension following his red card in the last league match.

Espanyol Barcelona

🎤 After their 3-2 victory over Mallorca, Manolo Gonzalez was incredibly proud of his players: "We were the better team and dominated the first half. Despite having control, we came close to an undeserved loss of points. My team showed strong character and proved they can achieve the necessary result even in such extreme conditions. However, there are many matches left in the league. There's a lot of work ahead. We must take it step by step, and the club will grow steadily. The standards at the club are also very high—those who aren't at the required level won't have the chance to defend Espanyol's emblem."

❌ Espanyol's injury list includes Javier Hernandez (leg injury), who suffered a setback at the end of last season while on loan at Huesca. Due to suspension, Pere Milla will not be available for the upcoming league match.

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

🟨 Yellow Card Prediction

Espanyol have been resorting to rough fouls more frequently this season, leading to an average of 2.3 yellow cards per game. In comparison, Real Madrid's rate stands at just 1.3. The head-to-head stats tell a similar story: 2.8 against 2.2. Our team doesn't anticipate a change in this trend – Espanyol to win the yellow card battle with a -1 handicap.

⚽ Goal Prediction

In 5 of the last 6 head-to-head encounters between these sides, there have been at least 3 goals scored. This trend mirrors the recent matches of both teams. Additionally, their average goal-scoring at the start of this season is 2 for Real and 2 for Espanyol. We suggest the following bet – over 3 goals total.

🚩 Corner Prediction

Real Madrid have a significant edge in corner kicks during head-to-head matchups, averaging 7.2 compared to Espanyol's 3.9. This season, the corner ratio remains similar: 6 to 2 in favor of Real Madrid. We expect the hosts to dominate possession, which should impact the number of corners taken. Our pick – Real Madrid to win the corner battle with a -4 handicap.

Despite Espanyol's impressive form, we wouldn't expect miracles from the visitors. Several factors favor a confident victory for Los Blancos. Key among them are the home advantage, which has historically been challenging for the Parakeets, the superior skill level of the squad, and the hosts' extensive experience in high-stakes encounters. Considering all of this, our editorial team predicts a final score of 3-1. The main bet is Real Madrid to win with a -1.5 handicap.