Real Madrid will kick off their 2026-27 La Liga season on Saturday evening, facing Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium under the management of Jose Mourinho. The objective for Los Blancos this season is to reclaim the title from Barcelona, while Espanyol aims for a top-half finish after starting their campaign with a convincing 3-0 victory over Levante on August 16. In their opening match, Espanyol showcased strong performance against Levante, with Roberto Fernandez netting two goals to secure the win. Last season, Manolo Gonzalez's squad finished 11th in La Liga, but they initially displayed impressive form that hinted at a potential Champions League qualification before a disappointing second half of the season saw them drop in the standings. This summer, Espanyol has welcomed five new signings while parting ways with ten players, giving their squad a refreshed look for the current season. In their previous encounters, Espanyol suffered defeats to Real Madrid in both league matches last season, although they managed to claim a 1-0 win against Los Blancos at home in February 2025. Historically, Espanyol has won 46 and lost 119 of their 201 matches against Real Madrid, making it interesting to see how Mourinho's side performs this season. Real Madrid did not participate in the opening round of La Liga fixtures due to several players being involved in the later stages of the 2026 World Cup, which means their first match will be against Real Sociedad on August 26. As they face Espanyol, Los Blancos are eager to start their season on a high note, with the goal of reclaiming the league title after Barcelona's back-to-back championships in the previous two seasons.