Real Madrid Launch La Liga Campaign Away at Espanyol

The 2026-27 La Liga campaign gets underway for Real Madrid as José Mourinho takes charge of his first competitive league match in his second stint at the club. Traveling to the RCDE Stadium on Saturday evening, Los Blancos are determined to regain the Spanish title after FC Barcelona captured the trophy in back-to-back seasons. Host side Espanyol arrive full of confidence following a dominant opening victory, setting up a captivating encounter in Catalonia.

Espanyol High on Confidence After Opening Day Victory

Espanyol made a statement in their season opener on August 16, sweeping past Levante UD in a 3-0 home triumph. Forward Roberto Fernández proved lethal in the final third with a first-half brace, while Tyrhys Dolan added a third late on. Under head coach Manolo González, Espanyol are aiming for a top-half finish after finishing 11th last campaign.

Having overhauled their roster with five summer arrivals and ten departures, Espanyol possess a fresh look. Although Espanyol dropped both league meetings to Real Madrid last season, they famously registered a 1-0 victory over Los Blancos at the RCDE Stadium in February 2025.

High-Profile Debuts and Squad Availability for Real Madrid

Having missed gameweek one due to extensive player participation in the late stages of the 2026 World Cup, Real Madrid hit the pitch following an undefeated pre-season schedule that concluded with a 3-0 victory against FC Schalke 04. The summer transfer window brought massive reinforcements to the capital, with Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Carlos Espí, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, and Bernardo Silva joining the club, while Vinícius Júnior committed his long-term future by signing a contract extension.

However, José Mourinho must manage several roster absences. Real Madrid will be without Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy, Endrick, and Aurélien Tchouaméni due to various physical issues. Stars like Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande could start on the bench following reduced pre-season minutes, opening the door for debuts for Dumfries, Konaté, Cucurella, and Bernardo Silva, while Kylian Mbappé spearheads the attack.

Espanyol also face fitness concerns, with Kike García, Javi Puado, and the suspended Leandro Cabrera ruled out. Midfielder Edu Expósito remains doubtful after picking up a muscle tweak against Levante.

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