Preview: Los Blancos' last match before the Champions League final
For Real Madrid, there is absolutely nothing at stake in this match. However, it does not mean that Carlo Ancelotti will tell the players to take it for granted.
Hosting Espanyol will provide the collective with an opportunity to redeem pride in front of the home crowd. More importantly, it will offer Los Blancos a perfect platform to rehearse for the titanic showdown against city rivals Atletico Madrid ahead of the 2013/14 UEFA Champions League final scheduled for May 24th.
For Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, there is more. After missing Real Madrid’s 2-0 loss away to Celta Vigo – the match that eventually ended the team’s league title race – the 29-year-old wants to defy his doctors and play despite facing injury problems.
Ronaldo’s main reason? To kill two birds with one stone as the Pichichi and Europea Golden Shoe awards are at stake.
As of now, the Portuguese forward is tied with Luis Suarez in the race for the continental prize. But the latter has the advantage thanks to his higher number of assists. As for the Pichichi, CR7 (31) is three goals ahead of Lionel Messi and four goals ahead of Diego Costa.
| PLAYER | TEAM | GOALS | PENALTIES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid | 31 | 6 |
| L. Messi | Barcelona | 28 | 6 |
| Diego Costa | Atlético Madrid | 27 | 5 |
Real Madrid’s fixture at home to Espanyol will kick off a couple of hours before La Liga’s title decider between Barcelona and Atletico at the Camp Nou. Should Cristiano Ronaldo net two or more goals, it would put him in a very comfortable position to secure the Pichichi ahead of the league title decider in Catalonia.
Meanwhile, Espanyol will be keen to distract the hosts. If Barca's neighbours emulate Celta de Vigo, the atmosphere among Madridistas will be very tense days before their closest fight for La Decima.
Where to watch the match – live stream, start time, TV channels, lives scores
Watch Real Madrid vs Espanyol live on Saturday, May 17, 2014:
In USA at 10:00 EST on:
| United States | beIN Sports Play, beIN Sports en Español |
In Canada at 10:00 EST on:
| Canada | beIN Sports Play Canada |
In Spain at 16:00 local time:
| Spain | C+ Liga Multi, GOL T, Gol Stadium |
For worldwide broadcast listings and live scores, visit the Real Madrid-Espanyol match page.
