The forward has gone three games in which he has scored three or more goals against the Catalan side.Cristiano Ronaldo has been particularly prolific in the last few games against Espanyol, as he has now starred in three goal fests against the blanquiazules. This run started in the penultimate fixture of the 2014/15 LaLiga season, when he scored a hat-trick in the Whites' visit to Espanyol (1-4). The Portuguese bettered that in the next visit to Cornellà-El Prat scoring an incredible five times (0-6).

The madridista forward scored another three goals in the two sides’ meeting at the Bernabéu in the second half of the 2015/16 LaLiga season (6-0). This was the last time he faced Espanyol, as he did not feature in LaLiga game week 4 this season. In total, Cristiano has scored 15 times against this opposition, making them the team he has his fourth highest goal scoring record against.

"This is somewhere where the difference between the league leaders and the bottom side isn't all that evident", added the Whites' coach

Zinedine Zidane took to the media room at El Sadar in the wake of Real Madrid's victory over Osasuna and the madridista coach had the following to say: "Each weekend we know we're going to be put under pressure in LaLiga, both from Barcelona and the other teams. We expected to have to dig in because we know that they're a side that make life difficult for you right from the off on their own patch, but we're happy to have got the three points".

"We had the chances to have scored a second and they then went and levelled things. At half-time I said to them that it could very well happen and that we needed to make the most of our chances. After the break we saw an improved performance and we looked more balanced. We're happy because this is somewhere where the difference between the league leaders and the bottom side isn't all that evident".

WE NEED TO REST UP AND THEN FOCUS OUR ATTENTIONS ON WEDNESDAY’S GAME.

“We started with three at the back and with Marcelo and Danilo on the wings, but after the injury we had to change things in order to keep the balance and we were able to get the win. We have gone 15 days without playing and now we know that we’ll be playing every three days. We need to rest up and then focus our attentions on Wednesday’s game”.

James
“James did well because it’s not easy to step into a game like that which is so back and forth. He is calm and helps the others to play, he is a key member of this side”.

Danilo’s injury
“Danilo took a knock and we’ll have a look at that tomorrow but I think it’s just a knock. I also feel bad about the Osasuna player’s injury and we all feel the same way”.

Nacho surpasses his season-best minutes tally

The defender has racked up 1,653 minutes in 20 games compared to the 1,601 minutes he amassed last term.His defensive solidity and versatility have seen Nacho establish himself as one of the main men in the Real Madrid back line, with the youth-team graduate this season racking up the most minutes since he has been a part of the first-team squad (1, 653). Equally at home in any of the defensive positions, Nacho has featured in 20 games across La Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup.

Prior to this season, his best year in term of minutes played was last campaign, in which he clocked up 1,601 minutes across 22 games. He made the starting XI in 16 of those fixtures and has already started 17 games so far this term. As well as being a reliable presence at the back, Nacho has also chipped in with a goal and an assist so far this season.