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Opposition lowdown: Real Madrid
The LaLiga champions visit the RCDE Stadium
Real Madrid are a team who need little introduction ahead of their visit to the RCDE Stadium to face RCD Espanyol.
The club from the capital are the defending LaLiga champions, as well as having won the Champions League and UEFA Super Cup. They are a formidable opposition who will pose an enticing challenge to Espanyol on Sunday.
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Name: Real Madrid CF
Nickname: Los Blancos (The Whites)
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu – 81,004 capacity
Last game: W 4-1 vs Celta de Vigo
Last season: 1st
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Last meeting
Real Madrid ran riot the last time they faced Espanyol, as they clinched the LaLiga title with a 4-0 victory at the Bernabéu. Goals from Rodrygo, Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema saw the hosts seal all three points and the trophy.
That being said, Real’s last visit to the RCDE Stadium ended in a stunning victory for Espanyol. Raúl de Tomás and Aleix Vidal scored either side of half-time to earn a 2-1 win for the Pericos last October, in what was a statement performance and one of the highlights of the campaign.
Key player
It is impossible to ignore Benzema, Real Madrid’s talisman and captain who will lead the line come Sunday. Only this week was the Frenchman crowned UEFA’s Men’s Player of the Year for 2022, having led Los Blancos to the league and Champions League titles last season.
Benzema has started the new season well, with two goals and an assist in three appearances. He will be the man to keep an eye out for and the main focus for the Espanyol defence, in what will be an exciting battle this weekend.
Club links
Ricardo Zamora was a decorated goalkeeper for both Espanyol and Real Madrid, playing in the early 20th century and when LaLiga was formed in 1929. He began his career at Espanyol, spending 11 years across two stints with the club before joining Real in 1930.
He would spend six years in the Spanish capital, winning consecutive LaLiga titles in his time at Real. Nevertheless, Zamora’s bond with Espanyol would continue into his managerial career, when he was the manager from 1955 to 1957 and again in 1961.