ESPANYOL v REAL MADRID TICKETS: Sunday, December 17, 2006. ESPANYOL ON A REAL FINE STREAK

To say that RCD Espanyol are riding on the crest of a wave at the moment would not only be cliche, it may also be something of an understatement. Such is the upturn in, not only, fortune but also performance and belief that Ernesto Valverde’s side take on Real Madrid with a 15-game unbeaten run in the league and Europe.
While the only glitch in that impressive spell saw los Periquitos make an early exit from the Copa del Rey at the hands of third-tier outfit Rayo Vallecano, things have improved beyond all recognition from the opening weeks of the
campaign when the most cynical of the club’s fans were actually daring to suggest the coach be axed. Two extremely late goals against Athletic and Betis turned one point into four, while in the UEFA Cup the team has recorded a 100 per cent record in their group. The most impressive week in virtually any team’s calendar this season, saw Valverde’s team defeat title-chasing Sevilla on the Sunday, then travel to Amsterdam where Henk ten Cate’s Ajax were put to the sword in midweek, before returning to beat Atletico de Madrid in the Vicente Calderon.
The victory last weekend against los Colchoneros moved Espanyol in the heady position of tenth in the table and after the game the coach even stated that the team had beaten a rival for one of the Champions League places. Whether things have quite reached that stage yet remains to be seen, but there is no doubting that not only are Espanyol winning games, they are also entertaining to watch at long last. Cynical Barca fans may claim there is an affiliation betwen their city neighbours and Real Madrid, but the loyal supporters would not ordain to have a second team, despite the odd historical references that have linked the two clubs in the past.
At present, Madrid would, no, doubt, jump at the chance to taste some of the luck that their hosts here have been enjoying of late. Fabio Capello said when he took at the Santiago Bernabeu that people would have to wait 50 days to see results, but it is now over 100 and his team are still being panned by the critics. Defeat last weekend aganst Sevilla did bring to an end a run of four successive wins in the league, but there is still a feeling that the star-studded team is churning out results rather than overwhelming the oppositon as Capello is stubbornly sticking to his Italian tactics despite all the evidence pointing to the that he should allow his players more freedom.
Espanyol have a god record in recent seasons against Madrid in the E Olimpic and will really fancy their chances of causing what may or may m considered an upset.
Despite playing in midweek while their opponents rested, Valverde’s tearr still be a very tough outfit for the visitors to break down and with their i record this term will do well to earn a draw.