Espanyol - Real Madrid

Espanyol head into this LaLiga matchday 2 encounter at RCDE Stadium on 22 August 2026 following a confident start to their campaign. They secured a clean sheet and three points in their opening fixture, dispatching Levante 3-0 to build early momentum. In contrast, Real Madrid arrive for their first competitive outing of the season with a squad featuring high-profile names like Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior, though they must navigate the absences of Raul Asencio, Endrick, and Thiago Pitarch.

History suggests a difficult task for the hosts, as Real Madrid claimed a 2-0 victory in their most recent meeting on 3 May 2026. While Espanyol will be bolstered by their home support and the expected presence of Marko Dmitrovic in goal, they must overcome a side that has frequently dominated their recent head-to-head encounters. With Leandro Cabrera missing through suspension, the defensive unit faces a rigorous test against a formidable visiting attack.