Under José Mourinho, Real Madrid showed a powerful attack in pre-season matches, crushing Schalke 3-0 in their last match. However, the Madrid club's defense is suffering from personnel shortages: due to injuries, only three players remain in central defense, including new signing Ibrahima Konate, who is still adapting to the team. This vulnerability could give Espanyol a chance to score, especially since they already started the new season with a crushing 3-0 win over Levante, with striker Roberto Fernandez scoring twice.
Both teams boast strong attacking lines: Roberto Fernandez is key for the hosts, while Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and new signing Yann Diomande are key for the visitors. Given these factors, the match is likely to be a close one, with at least three goals scored.
