Real Madrid were the only team to finish unbeaten at home in La Liga last season, wrapping up the campaign with an impressive record of 16 wins and three draws. Los Blancos netted 48 goals and conceded just nine, concluding the campaign with a goal difference of +39 when playing on home turf.

This dominance at the Bernabeu has continued into the current season, with back-to-back wins in La Liga. Carlo Ancelotti’s men eased past Real Valladolid 3-0 and followed that up with a 2-0 victory over Real Betis. In their most recent game, Real Madrid beat Stuttgart in the Champions League by a scoreline of 3-1.

For this selection to land, Real Madrid need to win by at least two goals, which they have managed in every home game this campaign.

So far this season, Valverde has taken nine shots across five games in La Liga, managing to hit the target in four of those matches.

All nine of his shots have come from outside the box, often from dangerous positions in and around Zone 14, where he poses a constant threat.

Valverde’s significance to Ancelotti’s squad is evident, as he has yet to miss a single minute of action this season in both La Liga and the Champions League. With Eduardo Camavinga sidelined due to injury, Valverde’s central role is expected to continue.

Valverde has also been tasked with taking free-kicks for Los Blancos. So far, he has taken two free-kicks this season, both of which were on target, with one resulting in a goal.

Vinicius Jr has made 10 fouls in his last five games – only Eder Militão has made more for Real Madrid this season. Vinicius has been guilty of committing an infringement in every home game this season.

The winger has shown an increased willingness to track back so far this campaign, and is typically aggressive in duels, which explains his current record.

He will match up against Omar El Hilali who drew three fouls for Espanyol in his previous game against Alaves. Vinicius Jr made three fouls in his last game against Stuttgart, with his opposition right back, Josha Vagnoman, drawing two of those.

Last time Real Madrid hosted Espanyol in the Bernabeu was in the 2022/23 season – Vinicius Jr was shown a yellow card in that game for a foul.

Vinicius Jr has also drawn a foul in each of his last 20 appearances for Real Madrid across all competitions going back to last season, underlining his ability to attract defenders and create opportunities through his dribbling.

This season, the Brazilian winger has been even more effective, drawing 15 fouls in just five La Liga matches, averaging three fouls drawn per game.

He has been fouled at least two times in every appearance so far, including two fouls drawn from Stuttgart in the recent Champions League clash, and four fouls drawn against Atalanta in the Super Cup.

The Brazilian ranks second in La Liga currently for most fouls drawn. Last time out at the Bernabeu in the league, he drew five fouls against Real Betis.

After a slow start to his La Liga campaign, going scoreless in his first three matches, Kylian Mbappe has rediscovered his form, scoring four goals in his last three appearances for Real Madrid.

While two of those goals came from the penalty spot, Mbappe has consistently found himself in dangerous scoring positions from open play, averaging 5.57 shots per game at his new club.

In his seven games so far, he has managed at least two shots on target in six of those, highlighting his ability to find himself in scoring positions.

He also tends to see an uptick in shots when playing at home, recently accumulating seven attempts against Stuttgart, and nine shots in the previous home game against Real Betis, finding the back of the net in both games.

Javi Puado has settled into a massive role for Espanyol this season, captaining his side as the main striker.

In the absence of Martin Braithwaite who departed over the summer, Puado has become the focal point of Espanyol attacks, and is currently the top scorer this season.

Last time out against Alaves, he netted a hat-trick, displaying incredible efficiency by converting all three shots into goals.

He has managed at least two shots in four out of five games so far, failing only against Rayo Vallecano. It’s worth noting, that was the only game he has not completed the full 90 minutes.

He even managed two shots at the Metropolitana, which suggests his price here to attempt two shots again is too big.

Eder Militao has committed 11 fouls in his last five appearances for Real Madrid, including the Champions League, recording two fouls each against Real Valladolid, Las Palmas, Real Betis, and Real Sociedad.

Militao is known for his physicality and typically takes on the more aggressive role in his defensive partnership with Antonio Rudiger. While Militao focuses on tightly marking his man, Rudiger tends to play a more sweeping role, covering spaces behind him. This can often leave Militao exposed and caught out of position – a recipe for committing fouls.

Javi Puado has operated alongside Alejo Veliz as a strike partnership. The latter has drawn 12 fouls in five starts this season, which suggests Militao will have a good matchup against a striker who invites contact.

In Real Madrid’s previous game, Josha Vagnoman drew the matchup against Vinicius Jr on the left wing, and was forced into making two fouls.

Prior to that Jon Aramburu made four fouls and was booked, playing in a similar position. It has been a trend over the last season, that opposition right backs are drawn into fouls as they struggle to contain the pace and trickery of Vinicius Jr.

Their task has been even more difficult this season, given that Mbappe also tends to pop up on the left flank.

Omar El Hilali made three fouls in his previous game, and has made seven fouls in five games in total. Two or more fouls have landed in two out of five games, but against Vinicius Jr, he is set for his toughest test of the season.