Match Preview: RCD Espanyol vs Real Madrid
RCD Espanyol Team News
Espanyol are currently 15th in the La Liga table and are just nine points above relegation zone. Every game is important for Quique Sanchez Flores and his team. Espanyol have beaten Barcelona and Atletico Madrid since December at home and Real Madrid should not be complacent against the Catalans. Espanyol are reputed to bring out their A game against tougher opponents and it is not going to be an easy match.
Espanyol come into this game with an impressive run of results. They have been able to draw each of their last 4 games, managing to keep a clean sheet in the last game against a lackluster Depor side. Quique Sanchez Flores has no injury concerns and should have his full roaster at his disposal. Espanyol generally line up in a 4-4-2 with Gerard Moreno and Leo Baptistao up top.
Espanyol are not a goal threat as they have scored just 20 goals to this point in the season. However, Sanchez Flores has time and again resorted to park the bus strategy. They would sit deep, defend and hit the opposition in open play with neat one touch passing game on the counter. Having said that, Espanyol are prone to making bad defensive decisions time and again. They are weak in defensive transition and often lose the ball to an opposition, which is probably the most easiest way to catch them open.
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Real Madrid, given their form coming into this game, should score 3 or more goals in this game. It is going to be one last dress practice before the PSG game as Zidane might field a heavily rotated squad against Getafe.