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1-3: RCD Espanyol lose late on to Real Madrid
RCD Espanyol fell to a 3-1 defeat to Real Madrid on Sunday night.
Espanyol were back at the RCDE Stadium for the second week running, this time looking to avenge themselves for the 2-0 defeat to Rayo Vallecano last time out.
Real Madrid opened the scoring early, when Aurélien Tchouaméni threaded the ball through to Vinícius Jr. who duly slotted home. Vinícius would then force Benjamin Lecomte into a save, while Sergi Darder’s long shot came to no avail for the hosts.
A flurry of chances followed for Real through Vinícius and Karim Benzema. Espanyol came agonisingly close twice when Vinícius Souza’s effort was parried away by Thibaut Courtois, then Leandro Cabrera headed it inches wide from a corner.
Espanyol equalised right before half-time as Joselu took advantage of a defensive mishap and converted the rebound.
The hosts carried the momentum into the second half, and Joselu almost got another one but Courtois denied him before Javi Puado shot wide. Lecomte then made a terrific save from Benzema, before the Frenchman had a goal ruled out for offside soon after.
Real Madrid regained the lead with just two minutes to go. Rodrygo sent a searching ball into the box and Benzema was there to guide it home. It soon went from bad to worse for Espanyol, as Lecomte was sent off by VAR and Benzema added a third from the subsequent free kick.
Espanyol could not hold on for a point against the champions, as Real Madrid came away with the win.
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Match information
RCD Espanyol: Lecomte, Gil, Cabrera, Calero, Oliván, Expósito (D. Gómez 88’), Vinicius Souza (K. Bare 68’), Darder, Rubén Sánchez, Puado (Nico M. R. 78’), Joselu.
Real Madrid: Courtois, Vázquez (Carvajal 85’), Militão, Rüdiger, Alaba, Kroos (Ceballos 80’), Tchouaméni, Modrić (Camavinga 58’), Valverde (Rodrygo 58’), Benzema, Vinícius Jr.
Referee: Melero López
Attendance: 25,778