The Real Champs
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Real Madrid: 5 players who must shine against Espanyol

By Kevin Parvizi

MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 06: Rodrygo Goes of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his third goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Real Madrid and Galatasaray at Bernabeu on November 06, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
MADRID, SPAIN - NOVEMBER 06: Rodrygo Goes of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring his third goal during the UEFA Champions League group A match between Real Madrid and Galatasaray at Bernabeu on November 06, 2019 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /
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Real Madrid RW Rodrygo
VITORIA GASTEIZ, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 30: Rodrygo of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Deportivo Alaves v Real Madrid at the Estadio de Mendizorroza on November 30, 2019 in Vitoria Gasteiz Spain (Photo by David S. Bustamante/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

RW Rodrygo

Rodrygo could be the X-Factor to Real Madrid producing a convincing win over Espanyol. He’s cooled off since his perfect hat trick against Galatasaray in their final Champions League meeting at the Bernabeu, and that was definitely Rodrygo’s star-confirming moment if his debut goal against Osasuna was his star-making moment.

The Brazilian star is being managed carefully by Madrid, who understand his ability but don’t want to ask too much of him as an 18-year-old. Still, Rodrygo has played so well that he’s become a regular part of the lineup, competing with Gareth Bale for starts on the right side

While he didn’t start in either of Real’s last two games — Isco and Bale did — he looked better than Bale as a sub in last week’s win over Alaves. He even played a role in the build-up to Dani Carvajal’s scrappy winner.

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Rodrygo hasn’t played a full 90 minutes in La Liga for Real since scoring in a big win over Leganes on Oct. 31, and while his effectiveness has been limited since, the quality is still clearly there. The man is already one of the smartest attackers in the league, and he could easily have another star-quality performance on Matchday 16 in front of the home fans.

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