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Opposition lowdown: Real Madrid
RCD Espanyol face the reigning champions next up in the capital
RCD Espanyol head to the Santiago Bernabéu to face Real Madrid on Saturday.
A second away trip in a row sees the Mágico travel to the capital and looking to respond from defeat last time out. Reigning champions Real Madrid may be in a blue patch but remain a force to be reckoned with as ever, ahead of a crunch Champions League tie against Liverpool on Wednesday.
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Name: Real Madrid CF
Nickname: Los Blancos (The Whites); Los Merengues (The Meringues)
Manager: Carlo Ancelotti
Stadium: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu – 81,044 capacity
Last match: D 0-0 vs Real Betis
Current position: 2nd
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The season so far
Real Madrid are fighting to retain their LaLiga crown and find themselves in an intense title battle with FC Barcelona, currently nine points off the top. They returned from winning the Club World Cup last month and are still in the Copa del Rey and Champions League, where they are in the semi-final and round of 16 stages respectively.
Standout player
Vinicius Junior is a star among stars, though this season has stood out as he assumes an evergrowing importance in the team. The Brazilian winger has 27 goal contributions in all competitions and double figures in LaLiga, as he dazzles defences across the country and poses a huge challenge on Saturday
Last time at the RCDE Stadium
A warm summer evening at the start of the season saw Espanyol welcome Real Madrid to the RCDE Stadium, in what would be an intense 90 minutes for both sides.
After falling behind early on, Joselu levelled it up before half-time to bring the hosts back into it. The Mágico were pushing for more and competed with real credit, but it was not to be as a late Karim Benzema brace snatched a 3-1 win for Madrid.
Club links
Star striker Joselu is no stranger to Real Madrid, having joined their Castilla side in 2009 and eventually playing for the first team where he netted in both senior appearances. Now at Espanyol and in red hot form, the number nine returns to the Bernabéu in hopes of haunting his former side.