Real Madrid faces Espanyol with lineup changes, Vinicius returns

Real Madrid continues its strong start to the 2025/26 La Liga season, maintaining an undefeated record as they prepare to face Levante and Espanyol in upcoming matches. Vinicius Junior, who shone early in his Real Madrid career against Levante, is looking to regain his peak form after a slower start to the season under coach Xabi Alonso, with limited playing time and modest goal contributions so far. For the match against Espanyol, Alonso is expected to rotate the squad significantly due to injuries and suspensions, bringing in players like Dani Carvajal, Raul Asencio, Fran García, Brahim Díaz, and Vinicius Jr. to replace absent key defenders and provide fresh options up front. Despite these changes, Real Madrid remains confident in its squad depth, with Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Endrick returning from injury and likely to feature as substitutes. Espanyol, also unbeaten in La Liga, poses a challenging test for Real Madrid, promising an intriguing contest at the Santiago Bernabeu.