After successful 2-1 of their first UEFA Champions League match of the season towards Olympique Marseille, Actual Madrid can be again at their house stadium on Saturday once they face Espanyol. The aspect coached by Xabi Alonso began off the 2025-26 LaLiga season strongly, with 4 wins in 4 matches, eight objectives scored and solely two conceded up to now, however the visitors are one of many surprises of the season as they’re sitting third with ten factors and are nonetheless unbeaten. Whereas Actual Madrid can be coping with the absence of Dean Huijsen who can be suspended after receiving a purple card within the final away match towards Actual Sociedad, Vinicius Jr. is predicted to be named within the beginning eleven after ranging from the bench towards OM. Here is what it’s essential know:
Why not beginning Vinicius Jr. in Actual Madrid’s opening Champions League match was a mistake by Xabi Alonso
Francesco Porzio

The way to watch Actual Madrid vs. Espanyol, odds
- Date: Saturday, Sept. 20 | Time: 10:15 a.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu — Madrid
- Reside stream: ESPN+
- Odds: Actual Madrid -526; Draw +594; Espanyol +1288
Xabi Alonso on Vinicius Jr.
Talking on the scenario relating to the Brazilian winger, Xabi Alonso mentioned, “He seems good. Seeing him from the surface could be very completely different. Yesterday I did not assume it was the proper time to speak to him, however in the present day he had a much bigger smile on his face and was extra constructive. I talked to him, and on the finish, I did some particular person issues with him throughout the coaching session. Tomorrow we’ll see. Yesterday wasn’t the time to speak. It’s a must to have that instinct and in the present day we talked a bit. We completed the session with a very good feeling. We have performed 5 league video games, there’s nonetheless rather a lot left. This can be a marathon till Could. Now we have to go little by little in our evaluations. Now we have to provide everybody time, each the group and the person gamers.”
Doable lineups
Actual Madrid XI: Thibaut Courtois; Daniel Carvajal, Raul Asencio, Eder Militao, Alvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Aurelien Tchouameni; Brahim Diaz; Arda Guler, Kylian Mbappe; Vinicius Junior.
Espanyol XI: Marko Dmitrovic; Omar El Hilali, Fernando Calero, Leandro Cabrera, Carlos Romero; Tyrhys Dolan, Pol Lozano, Urko Gonzalez de Zarate, Javier Puado; Edu Exposito, Roberto Fernandez.
