Vinícius Returns to RCDE Stadium for LaLiga Clash Against Espanyol

Vinícius returns to his favourite hunting ground as Real Madrid finally launch their LaLiga season on Saturday evening – and Espanyol know exactly what that usually means.

Their trip to the RCDE Stadium comes in the second round of the campaign, but it is Madrid’s first outing after their scheduled opener against Real Sociedad was postponed. The wait has only sharpened the focus on one man.

Vinícius, Espanyol’s recurring nightmare

Few sides bring out Vinícius Júnior’s ruthless side quite like Espanyol. The Brazilian has scored 5 goals in 11 LaLiga meetings with the Catalan club, turning this fixture into one of his most reliable sources of goals.

Three of those strikes have come away from home, across his six visits to the RCDE Stadium. No other team in the competition has conceded more away goals to him. For a forward who thrives on rhythm and repetition, that kind of record matters.

He has also hit 3 goals apiece at three other grounds in LaLiga, but Espanyol’s home is where the pattern feels most personal. Every time he walks out there, the numbers say danger.

Roberto Fernández finds his moment

Espanyol, though, have a striker riding his own wave.

Roberto Fernández comes into the game in the best scoring spell of his LaLiga career. He has hit 3 goals in his last two league matches, one more than he managed in his previous 22 appearances combined.

That burst includes his second brace in the competition, delivered in the last round against Levante. For a player who has spent long stretches waiting for chances, this is a rare purple patch. Madrid arrive just as he has found his range.

Mourinho’s perfect record, González’s problem opponent

On the touchline, the historical balance tilts heavily towards the visitors.

José Mourinho has never lost to Espanyol in LaLiga. During his first spell in charge of Real Madrid, he faced them six times in the league, winning 4 and drawing 2. Against no other opponent in the competition has he gone unbeaten over so many matches, though he has also reached 6 games without defeat versus five other sides.

On the opposite bench, Manolo González carries a very different history into this clash. The Espanyol coach has lost 3 of his 4 LaLiga meetings with Real Madrid, managing just a single win.

Only Barcelona and Villarreal have beaten him more often in the competition, with 4 defeats each. Real Betis, like Madrid, have also put three losses on his record.

So the stage is clear. A coach who never slips against this rival, a winger who treats this stadium like his own, and a home striker suddenly scoring as if a tap has been turned on.

Something has to give at the RCDE Stadium.