Espanyol head coach Manolo González isn't mincing words ahead of his team's high-stakes home clash with Real Madrid. With belief running high in the dressing room, González made it clear that his side is ready to fight for every inch of the pitch—and that Madrid shouldn't expect an easy ride.

"The dressing room is eager to win and play a good match," González said. "To compete at their best, as they have been doing even though the results haven't been there. We know it will be a long match against a demanding opponent, but perhaps this is the ideal day for Real Madrid to come."

The Espanyol boss knows all too well that reputations mean nothing once the whistle blows. "I've played in matches where the points didn't matter, and once the game starts, everyone wants to win. Madrid isn't going to come here for a stroll, especially not with the badge they wear on their shirts. It will be a tough match, but we're capable of beating them. We did it last year. But we have to be fully focused for the full 90 minutes."

González also touched on the challenges facing his counterpart, Álvaro Arbeloa, who took over mid-season. "It's complicated when you take over a team mid-season. When you haven't started with the team, it's not easy, even if they have very good players. Plus, these are teams with history, which demands you give your best. When things aren't going well, you're more exposed than in other places."

For Espanyol, the game plan is clear: lock it down at the back and strike when it counts. "We're going to compete at our best, knowing that keeping a clean sheet is important and that we have to create scoring opportunities," González explained. "We've managed to recover some defensive solidity since the Betis game. We have to try to be patient in the final third."

As the underdogs prepare to take on one of football's most storied clubs, one thing is certain—Espanyol won't be rolling over. For fans gearing up for match day, it's the kind of grit and determination that makes every moment on the pitch worth watching.