Real Madrid vs Espanyol prediction: SPAIN: LaLiga betting tips on match 2023-03-10 13:00.
If Real Madrid are to retain their La Liga (LL) title, they’re going to have to make history as never before has a nine-point deficit been overhauled after 24 games, which they must now do following Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Real Betis. “It’s still not over,” maintained manager Carlo Ancelotti while Dani Ceballos said, “as long as there are points at stake, Madrid will always fight,” following their two-match winless run in the league (D2).
History suggests that run should end against Espanyol as Los Blancos have won the last nine home H2Hs without even conceding in any of the last seven. You have to go all the way back to April 1996 for the last time they lost a H2H against Barcelona’s second club at the Santiago Bernabéu, and given they’re now 15 LL matches unbeaten at home (W10, D5), a repeat seems highly unlikely.
Espanyol were building some momentum heading towards the upcoming international break, but their 2-1 defeat at Valladolid on Sunday was a bitter blow, as it left them firmly in danger of relegation. Despite the top half being in sight, they are one of a number of clubs that can’t be considered safe as they’re also lying just two points clear of the bottom three.
Prior to that Valladolid defeat, they’d only lost one in six league away games (W2, D3) proving that they can be a force to be reckoned with on the road. However, Espanyol’s aforementioned woeful H2H record here will weigh heavily against them, even if they’re yet to lose consecutive LL road games this term (W3, D5, L4).
Players to watch: Rodrygo scored a first-half brace for Madrid in this fixture last season but has been more of a second-half threat this term, with five of his last six goals coming after the 65th minute. Martin Braithwaite has scored each of Espanyol’s last three goals, two of them being the third of the game.
Hot streak: Espanyol have scored after the 85th minute in each of their last three LL away games.