Fighting until the end

Just two weeks remain in the Liga BBVA, with just six points left to play for. Real Madrid go into their penultimate game of the season desperate for a win so they can keep on fighting for the league title, even though they are four points behind FC Barcelona. RCD Espanyol, however, will not make things easy for them. The Catalans will see this game as another opportunity to pick up points as they aim to finish as high as possible in the league table.

Team news

The 'pericos' will be without Lucas Vázquez for contractual reasons, while JoséAlberto Cañas, who missed the game with Eibar due to suspension, returns. Real Madrid are without Sergio Ramos and Luka Modrić through injury, while Sami Khedira and Álvaro Arbeloa have been left out of the squad for tactical reasons.

View from the dugouts

Espanyol striker Felipe Caicedo said Real Madrid can expect to meet “a competitive Espanyol side in optimum conditions”. Coach Sergio González meanwhile insisted his side would be motivated for the match, declaring: “We want to make the most of all our chances of finishing in seventh place.”

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti, well aware that last week’s draw against Valencia CF has complicated his side’s quest for the Liga BBVA title, gave a rousing speech in his press conference. “We will give everything in these last two games, we’ll keep fighting for the league until mathematics tells us its over.”He also analysed the match and his side’s opponents: “Espanyol are also fighting for an important position in the table, so it will be an intense, difficult and complicated game.”