La Liga preview and odds: Real Madrid vs Espanyol

Published on: 18/02/2017

La Liga preview and odds: Real Madrid vs Espanyol

Feb 18, 2017 15:15pm - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

La Liga

Real Madrid will look to strengthen their position at the top of La Liga when they welcome ninth-ranked Espanyol to the Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon.

La Liga title Real Madrid`s to lose

With a one-point lead at the top of the table and two games in hand, it seems almost inevitable that Real Madrid will claim a long-overdue Spanish Premier Division title at the end of this season. Of course, strange things can happen in football, but it would take a capitulation of monumental proportions for Los Blancos to throw it away now.

Zinedine Zindane`s men come into this game having lost just one of their last 32 matches in the league, and having scored at least one goal in each of their last 20 matches. In addition, 80% of all their matches this term have produced more than 2.5 goals.

Meanwhile, opponents Espanyol have been beaten in just two of their last nine away matches and will be quietly confident of taking something from this game. In their last away match they grabbed all three points at Malaga and have already taken a point from the capital having held Atletico Madrid to a goalless draw back in December. However, they come into this game on the back of a disappointing 1-2 defeat at home to Champions League hopefuls Real Sociedad.

Team news

Sergio Ramos took a knock to the right knee last week and could miss out for the hosts along with Danilo (shin laceration) and long-term absentee Gareth Bale (ankle). The good news for Madrid is that the Welshman is now back in full training and could be in line for a return in the next week or two.

Meanwhile, the visitors will have to cope without the injured group of Papa Diop, Pablo Piatti, Victor Sanchez, Javi Lopez and Leo Baptistao.

Recent form (League)

Real Madrid: WWWLW

Espanyol: LWWWL

Betting odds and tips

Next week, it will be a year since Real Madrid were last beaten in the league on home soil (0-1 vs Atletico Madrid). The reigning European champions have only drawn two of the 16 home games they have played since then.

Espanyol were beaten 6-0 in the equivalent fixture last season but are much improved this time round. The team from Barcelona could cause problems for the hosts and they have scored at least once in each of their last eight games.

You can back Real Madrid/Match Result And Both Teams To Score at 7/5 with Bet365

By Neil Morris

Published on: 18/02/2017

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (18/02/2017 14:15:37) but are subject to change.