Real Madrid visit Espanyol on Saturday night for yet another meaningless La Liga fixture. Yes, you read that right. Meaningless.
The title is done. The top four is secure. All eyes are on next week’s El Clásico.
So Álvaro Arbeloa is doing what any sensible manager would do, ringing the changes and giving the reserves a run out. Including young Gonzalo García.
ESPANYOL’S PREDICTED XI
The home side have nothing to play for either, really. But they’ll still fancy causing an upset against a weakened Madrid.
Here’s how Espanyol could line up at the RCDE Stadium:
Dmitrovic; Omar El Hilali, Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Dolan, Urko Gonzalez, Expósito, Terrats; Pere Milla and Roberto Fernández.
That’s a 4-4-2 with two proper strikers. Milla and Fernández will look to rough up Madrid’s backup defenders.
REAL MADRID’S PREDICTED XI
Now for the visitors. No Modric. No big guns. Just a mix of squad players and hungry youngsters.
Lunin starts in goal. The Ukrainian has been patient all season. Here’s his chance.
A back four of Trent Alexander Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen and Ferland Mendy. Trent needs minutes. Huijsen needs experience. This is the perfect game.
In midfield: Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga. That’s still a very good midfield, let’s be honest. Just not the first choice one.
Jude Bellingham plays just behind the strikers. Vinicius Junior starts on the left. And up front? Gonzalo García gets the nod.
The young Spaniard has been knocking on the door. Now he gets to lead the line under Arbeloa, a manager who knows exactly what it takes to wear that white shirt.
WHY THIS GAME MATTERS (EVEN IF IT DOESN’T)
Okay, so the league is done. But individual battles matter. Gonzalo is playing for his future. Trent is playing for form. Camavinga is playing for a starting spot in El Clásico.
Espanyol will be physical. They’ll be motivated. Madrid’s reserves need to match that intensity.
HOW TO WATCH
Date: May 3, 2026
Time: 21:00 CET, 3:00pm EST
Venue: RCDE Stadium, Barcelona, Spain
TV: DAZN La Liga (Spain), ESPN Deportes (USA)
Streaming: ESPN+ (USA)
THE BOTTOM LINE
Don’t expect a classic. Do expect rotation. And keep an eye on Gonzalo García.
If he scores? The headlines write themselves. If he doesn’t? Back to the bench for El Clásico.
Arbeloa will be watching closely. This is a audition for plenty of them.
