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3-1: Defeat at the Bernabéu

RCD Espanyol leave Madrid empty handed after falling to Real Madrid

RCD Espanyol were beaten 3-1 away from home by Real Madrid on Saturday.

Diego Martínez’s men came to the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu looking for a first win since 1996, against a Real Madrid side without a win in their last three outings. They looked eager to end that run with a quick start, as Martin Braithwaite came close from Sergi Darder’s pass but could not beat the goalkeeper.

On eight minutes, Espanyol struck first with a swift and superb team move. Rubén Sánchez burst down the wing and played in Joselu, who without hesitation fired it perfectly into the top corner to silence the Bernabéu and draw first blood for the Mágico.

The visitors were in their best moment and almost scored again, but Vini Souza was denied from inside the six-yard box by Thibaut Courtois. It proved to be a decisive save when Madrid went up the other end and equalised through Vinícius Junior’s solo effort.

With the match all square and the sides even, the hosts were holding onto possession in search of the lead. They would get it before half-time with a powerful header from Éder Militão, leaving Espanyol trailing at half-time and with work to do in the second half.

Chasing the deficit after the break, Espanyol struggled to get any chances on goal against an organised opposition. For the few efforts they did have, they could not trouble Courtois and break down the hosts’ defence.

As the match came to its closing stages, Marco Asensio wrapped up the win for Real Madrid with a deft chip in stoppage time. Espanyol headed back to Barcelona pointless in a tough defeat on the road at the Santiago Bernabéu.

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Match information

Real Madrid: Courtois, Carvajal, E. Militão, Nacho, Camavinga, Kroos (D. Ceballos 74’), Modrić (Asensio 72’), Tchouameni (Rüdiger 74’), Valverde, Rodrygo, Vini Jr. (Álvaro 89’)

RCD Espanyol: Pacheco, Óscar Gil (Pierre-Gabriel 69’ (Aleix V.C 84’)), Cabrera, C. Montes, S. Gómez (Nico M.R 84’), B. Oliván, Vini Souza, Gragera (Denis Suárez 75’), Darder, Rubén S. (Puado 75’), Joselu, Braithwaite.

Referee: Jorge Figueroa Vázquez

Goals: 0-1 Joselu 8’, 1-1 Vini Jr 22’, 2-1 E. Militão 39’; 3-1 Asensio 90+3’

Bookings: Vini Jr 32’, D. Ceballos 86’, Carvajal 87’; Cabrera 18’, Óscar Gil 56’

Attendance: 59,872