BARCELONA, Jan 31, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - It took champions Real Madrid time to
click into gear this season but they visit Espanyol on Saturday in La Liga
sitting top of the table.

The trip is their final league match before facing rivals Atletico Madrid,
who trail Carlo Ancelotti's side by four points.

Kylian Mbappe is showing the form that made Madrid crave his arrival for
years as Los Blancos swerve a potential crisis.

After a poor start to their Champions League campaign, the holders progressed
to the knock-out round and wrapped up their group stage games with a 3-0 win
at Brest on Wednesday.

Vinicius Junior was suspended, with Rodrygo Goes excelling in his position on
the left flank and scoring twice to continue his own hot streak.

Mbappe's return to form has come at a time when Vinicius has also been
missing, first through injury and then a ban in La Liga too after a red card
against Valencia in January.

The Brazilian will be back for the trip to face Espanyol and forging a strong
connection with Mbappe would help Madrid reach an even higher plane.

"We look more solid and I have full confidence in this team because I like
what I'm seeing out on the pitch," said Ancelotti, noting his team's
improvement in recent weeks.

Mbappe has scored six goals in his last four games across all competitions,
however Vinicius has only started one of those.

The Brazilian winger said earlier in January that he and his team-mates would
work to help the former Paris Saint-Germain superstar find the net.

"Kylian has come to help us, and we will help him finish as top scorer in
every competition," explained Vinicius, showing his will to make the
connection work.

In the first few months of the season it seemed Mbappe wanted to play in
Vinicius' left wing spot but Ancelotti has plugged away with the French
international in the centre of the attack and it is finally paying dividends.

Mbappe said recently when he arrived he did not feel capable of instantly
asking the other players to mould around him.

"I've never been a shy player, but when you come to a team like Real Madrid,
who won everything last season, you have to come with humility," he
explained.

"I can't come demanding to a team that has just won the Champions League.
That's not how football works."

Ancelotti's side will expect to take three points from a trip to visit
Espanyol, 18th and battling relegation.

The visit to Cornella could also prove the perfect breeding ground for Mbappe
and Vinicius' budding link-up.
Player to watch: Hugo Duro

The Valencia striker is his team's main goalscoring threat in their bid to
escape relegation and will be aiming to find the net against Celta Vigo on
Sunday. After Los Che were hammered 7-1 by Barcelona last weekend they need
to bounce back strongly not to be caught adrift.
Key stats

9 - Alaves veteran Kike Garcia is the top Spanish scorer this season across
the big five European leagues

13 - Rodrygo has nine goals and four assists in his last 11 matches for Real

Madrid 17 - Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski is the league's top goalscorer,
edging Mbappe by two strikes
Fixtures

Friday (all times GMT)

Leganes v Rayo Vallecano (2000)

Saturday

Getafe v Sevilla (1300), Villarreal v Valladolid (1515), Atletico Madrid v
Mallorca (1730), Espanyol v Real Madrid (2000)

Sunday

Barcelona v Alaves (1300), Valencia v Celta Vigo (1515), Osasuna v Real
Sociedad (1730), Real Betis v Athletic Bilbao (2000)

Monday

Girona v Las Palmas (2000)