Espanyol and Real Madrid reveal expected line-ups for Liga opener

Real Madrid begin their Liga campaign away to Espanyol on Saturday, with both sides facing a number of absences and significant changes to their squads following a busy transfer window. The fixture will also be Jose Mourinho’s first official match in charge of Real Madrid, while Espanyol will look to home advantage and the recent form of Roberto Fernandez and Tyrhys Dolan.

Espanyol are expected to start Marko Dmitrovic in goal, with Omar El Hilali, Clemens Riedel, Unai Nunez and Roger Hinojo forming the defensive line.

Urko Gonzalez and Edu Exposito are likely to anchor the midfield, while Alex Calatrava, Javi Hernandez and Tyrhys Dolan are set to provide support further forward. Roberto Fernandez is expected to lead the attack after scoring twice against Levante.

The Catalan side remain uncertain over the availability of Kike Garcia and Javi Puado, both of whom are carrying injuries. Their potential absence would further test an Espanyol squad that has undergone considerable change in the summer.

Among the club’s arrivals are Hartman, Gabriel Moscardo, Unai Nunez, Vanja Drkusic and Alex Calatrava. Those additions have followed several important departures as Espanyol seek to reshape their squad for the new campaign.

Real Madrid’s expected XI

Real Madrid will be without Eder Militao and Rodrygo for Mourinho’s first competitive game back at the club. Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio and Pitarch are also expected to miss the match.

Despite those absences, the Spanish champions have strengthened significantly during the transfer window. Bernardo Silva, Yan Diomande, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konate have all joined the squad.

Kylian Mbappe is expected to be one of Real Madrid’s main attacking threats as they begin the new season. The France captain is listed to start as the central striker, with Vinicius Junior operating from the left side of an attacking midfield five.

Thibaut Courtois is set to start in goal, behind a defence of Dumfries, Konate, Antonio Rudiger and Cucurella. Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Yan Diomande, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior are the predicted midfielders, with Mbappe leading the line.

The match is described as Espanyol’s second jornada fixture against Real Madrid in the Spanish championship. Betting company 1xbet has priced an Espanyol victory at 7.50, with the draw at 4.70 and a Real Madrid win at 1.43.

Those figures underline the visitors’ status as favourites, although Espanyol’s attacking options, particularly Fernandez and Dolan, could present a threat at the start of what promises to be a demanding Liga campaign.