Vinicius Junior and Mourinho bring contrasting records to Real Madrid’s Espanyol test

Vinicius Junior goes into Real Madrid’s delayed La Liga opener against Espanyol with an impressive record against the Catalan club, while manager Jose Mourinho has never lost to them in the competition.

Real Madrid travel to face Espanyol on Saturday evening in their first league match of the season. Their opening fixture against Real Sociedad was postponed, meaning this game will mark their competitive start to the new La Liga campaign.

The match presents another opportunity for Vinicius Junior to continue his scoring record against one of his most familiar opponents. According to Opta statistics, the Brazil forward has scored five goals in 11 La Liga appearances against Espanyol.

Three of those goals have come in six away matches at the RCDE Stadium, which will host Saturday’s meeting. No other team has conceded more goals to Vinicius Junior away from home in La Liga. He has also scored three times at three other stadiums, but none of those records has been achieved against a different opponent in the competition.

Vinicius Junior’s numbers will be tested by an Espanyol side whose striker Roberto Fernandez has recently found his form. Fernandez has scored three goals in his past two La Liga matches, one more than he managed in his previous 22 appearances in the competition.

His latest performance included his second La Liga brace, scored against Levante in the previous round. That run gives Espanyol an attacking threat of their own as they prepare to welcome Real Madrid.

Mourinho unbeaten in six meetings with Espanyol

Mourinho also has strong historical numbers in this fixture. During his first spell in charge of Real Madrid, he avoided defeat in all six of his La Liga matches against Espanyol, recording four victories and two draws.

He has not faced any other opponent more often in the competition without losing. Mourinho has also played six La Liga matches without defeat against five other teams, making Espanyol part of a wider group at the top of that particular statistical record.

The record is in marked contrast to that of Espanyol manager Manolo Gonzalez, who has lost three of his four La Liga meetings with Real Madrid. His only positive result against them was a victory.

Gonzalez has suffered more defeats against just two teams in the competition: Barcelona and Villarreal, against whom he has lost four times each. He has also been beaten three times by Real Betis.

Saturday’s match therefore brings together several contrasting records. Vinicius Junior has repeatedly found the net against Espanyol, Mourinho has yet to lose to them in La Liga, while Gonzalez will attempt to improve a record that has so far brought only one victory in four meetings with Real Madrid.