Espanyol's Defense Faces Challenge Against Real Madrid Without Cabrera

Espanyol’s plans for Real Madrid have been hit by a suspension they thought they had pushed into the past.

Leandro Cabrera, a cornerstone of their back line, will miss next Saturday’s clash with Los Blancos as he finally begins serving a ban carried over from last season. The punishment stems from an incident against Getafe, when, according to the referee’s report, the Uruguayan defender struck the VAR screen at the end of the game. The disciplinary committee handed him a three-match suspension.

Espanyol fought it all the way. The club appealed until the last possible moment, trying to delay the implementation of the sanction. It bought them time, but not a reprieve. The decision stood.

The impact of that ruling was first felt against Levante. Cabrera’s omission raised eyebrows: his name appeared on the morning squad list, only for him to disappear from the starting XI minutes before kick-off, with no mention of any injury. The explanation arrived later — the suspension had finally kicked in.

On the pitch, Manolo turned to Riedel alongside Unai Nunez at the heart of the defence. The makeshift pairing held firm. Levante’s forwards rarely troubled Dmitrovic, and Espanyol used that platform to secure their first win of the La Liga campaign.

That kind of comfort will not be on offer next weekend.

Real Madrid arrive with a very different kind of menace. Kylian Mbappe spearheads an attack that punishes the slightest hesitation, and Espanyol will have to face it without one of their most seasoned defenders. Cabrera has logged countless minutes against Spain’s elite, his experience often the anchor when pressure rises.

Now that anchor is gone for Madrid’s visit. Riedel and Nunez passed their first examination, but the next one comes with Mbappe and company charging at them.