Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid summary: score, goals, highlights | LaLiga 2021-22
Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid: as it happened
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Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid
Former Real Madrid player Raúl de Tomás opened the scoring with a close range strike after good play down the right by Adrián Embarba. The home side took a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.
On the hour-mark, Aleix Vidal nutmegged Nacho, before firing past Thibaut Courtois to double his side's lead. Karim Benzema brought Madrid back into the game with 20 minutes remaining on the clock.
Espanyol midfielder Sergi Darder had a wonderful chance to wrap it up but he sent his effort wide of Courtois' post. Darder was exceptional for Vicente Moreno's side and deserved to put the game to bed, however, Madrid kept pushing for an equaliser.
Eden Hazard scored a fine volley late on, but Benzema, who assisted the Belgian, was offside in the build-up. Espanyol held out to record an important home win over Los Blancos.
Espanyol have beaten the league leaders. They fully deserve the three points today. Darder, Embarba and Raúl de Tomás were all superb on the day.
FT: Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid
30 seconds left!
And it's a goalkick!
Real Madrid corner!
Courtois is up!
Vicente Moreno is encouraging his players to hold on.
We're into the final three minutes. Espanyol lead by a single goal!
Espanyol's fitness coach has been sent off!
There will be five minutes added on!
The RCDE Stadium is rocking!
Alaba's free-kick goes straight into the wall!
David López takes out Rodrygo. Free-kick to Real Madrid.
Hazard scores!
But...Benzema, who assisted the Belgian to smash home a volley, is offside.
Double change for Espanyol
OFF Darder & Gil
ON Vila & Lopez
Darder gets a standing ovation. He has been exceptional.
BENZEMA!
His header goes just wide of the far post.
It remains Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid
Óscar Gil is booked for protesting.
Well, there hasn't been a minute since Benzema's goal but what a goal that was. He runs across the 18-yard line, going past 3 or 4 Espanyol players, before curling his shot into the near corner. He only gets better!
Alaba free-kick
The former Bayern man sends his free over the bar. 2-1
That's a nasty clash between Melamed and Militao, but thankfully they're both back on their feet now.
Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid - Benzema gives Madrid hope with 20+ minutes to go.
DARDER!
The midfielder strikes it really well from 25 yards. Courtois somehow keeps it out!
Benzema scores but it's ruled out for offside. Jovic is offside before he sets Benzema up.
Espanyol substitutions
OFF Embarba & Vidal
ON Wu Lei & Melamed
And somehow Darder has missed! It should be Espanyol 3-0 Real Madrid, but the midfielder shoots wide.
What a goal by Aleix Vidal. He nutmegs Nacho on his way to goal, before slotting low beyond Courtois to double his side's lead.
Casemiro and Jovic are coming in for Madrid.
Espanyol change:
OFF Melendo
ON Morlanes
Morlanes is about to come in for Espanyol.
Alaba is offside again on the left wing as Madrid seek an equaliser.
MILITAO!
It's so, so close! Kroos sends in another magnificent corner. Militao finds himself totally free but his header creeps just wide of López's left-hand post.
Real Madrid corner. Kroos sends it in. Embarba clears for the home side.
Eden Hazard is also warming up for Madrid.
If you're just joining us, Espanyol lead thanks to a Raúl de Tomás strike in the 17th minute.
Espanyol get us underway for the second half!
Real Madrid have made a half-time change.
OFF Camavinga
ON Rodrygo
Espanyol deserve their half-time lead. Ancelotti could look to the bench for the second half.
HT: Espanyol 1-0 Real Madrid
It's Embarba to De Tomás once again. The left winger picks out the goalscorer, but he can't keep his volley down.
Gil shoots!
It's an ambitious effort from the right-back and it sails over the bar.
MILITAO!
What a chance for Real Madrid. It's an excellent cross from Alaba, but Militao can't direct his header on target.
Raúl de Tomás strikes!
The goalscorer finds himself on the edge of the box. The ball is rolled across the area to him. He lashes out at it and drags his shot wide.
Alaba is offside!
Kroos plays a long ball over the top. The Austrian must be at least three yards offside.
Real Madrid are patiently playing it from left to right. Espanyol are sitting in a low block and Los Blancos can't break them down. Modric and Kroos have been unable to play their trademark through balls to Benzema.
Camavinga takes out Bare and picks up Madrid's first yellow of the match.
Espanyol take a free-kick short. Aleix Vidal receives it wide, before curling it over his team-mates inside the Madrid box. Vicente Moreno will be delighted with his side's performance so far.
Diego López saves from Benzema
The ball bounces up nicely for Benzema. He strikes it really well but not where he was aiming for. It lands straight into López's hands.
Espanyol 1-0 Real Madrid
Embarba does so well down the right and fires a low cross to the near post, where De Tomás has moved to, and the former Madrid man buries a close range effort past Courtois to send the home crowd wild.
Benzema shoots!
The French striker finds a way through two Espanyol players and manages to get a shot off but it's a weak one and López saves, once again, with ease.
Embarba picks up a yellow card for standing on Camavinga as both players challenged for a 50-50 ball.
EMBARBA!
Courtois saves from the left winger, who sends a curling effort into the far corner from outside the box. It was a great run and strike by the former Rayo Vallecano player but the Belgian tips it out for a corner.
Valverde crosses to the back post, but Espanyol clear the danger. The Uruguayan went for the diagonal cross to Alaba but was unable to get the required height.
Vinicius and Benzema are in brilliant form. After less than 5 minutes played, they have already linked up. López hasn't far to move to collect Benzema's left-footed effort from 16 yards.
BENZEMA!
Vinicius backheels to Benzema and the Frenchman shoots straight at Diego López.
It's a nice sunny afternoon in Barcelona. Espanyol have been allowed to welcome just over half of their capacity for today's game.
Espanyol play from left to right as we watch it. Madrid are playing in their all-white strip and play from right to left.
Real Madrid get us underway!
The players are in the tunnel.
Kick-off is just 10 minutes away!
Espanyol goalkeeper Diego López warms up ahead of kick-off.
Photo: Reuters / Albert Gea
AS match predictions:
Rob: Espanyol 1-3 Real Madrid
Kieran: Espanyol 0-2 Real Madrid
The guys are predicting an away today.
Kick-off in Barcelona is just 30 minutes away!
Atlético beat Barcelona at Wanda
Madrid's cross-city rivals, Atlético, recorded a 2-0 win over Barcelona on Saturday to put the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti's team.
As things stand, Atlético are joint-top with Madrid, but Los Blancos have a game in hand. If they can beat Espanyol today, they will move three points clear of the La Liga champions.
Espanyol fans in early
Espanyol supporters will be hoping their team can prevent Real Madrid from extending their lead at the top of La Liga.
Photo: Reuters / Albert Gea
Real Madrid league form
- 1st place
- 17 points
- won 5, drew 2, lost 0
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | 17 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 |
| 3 | 16 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 14 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 5 | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 |
Espanyol league form
- 16th place
- 6 points
- 1 won, drew 3, lost 3
| T | MP | W | D | L | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| 15 | 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 |
| 16 | 6 | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| 17 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 |
| 18 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
Is defeat to Sheriff Real Madrid's most embarrassing loss ever?
One of the last names plucked from the fourth pot and placed in Group D at the group stage draw in Istanbul last August was that of FC Sheriff Tiraspol.
Despite being a regular side in recent group stages of the Europa League, the relatively unknown Sheriff Tiraspol have a unique history, effectively being the ‘national team’ of Transnistria hailing from the capital city of Tiraspol.
Founded in 1997 by oligarch Viktor Gushan, FC Sheriff owes its first appearance in the Champions League group stage to the vast sums of money from the all-powerful conglomerate run by this former policeman and alleged agent of the defunct KGB who will have watched on with pride as his club delivered one of the most humiliating nights Real Madrid fans will have experienced for quite some time.
Real Madrid starting XI
Toni Kroos starts for Real Madrid. Casemiro is on the bench for Ancelotti's side. There is also a place in the starting XI for Camavinga.
TEAM NEWS | Espanyol
The home side currently sit in 16th place in the LaLiga standings after returning to Spain's top flight from Segunda.
Vicente Moreno remains without Javi Puado, who has missed the last four games. Miguelón Llambrich is also out with a thigh injury. Midfielder Yangel Herrera, who is recovering from a broken tibia will be absent for the hosts and will not be in Venezuela's squad for the upcoming international break.
TEAM NEWS | Real Madrid
Dani Ceballos, Dani Carvajal, Gareth Bale and Mariano all miss out for Madrid. Isco and Marco Asensio didn't train with the first team on Saturday and both midfielders have been ruled out of the match. Marcelo and Ferland Mendy both trained on Saturday ahead of the trip to Catalonia, but neither makes the matchday squad. Toni Kroos could start for Madrid after coming on against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League on Tuesday. Head coach Carlo Ancelotti will be looking to get back to winning ways after his side's shock defeat to the Moldovan side at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid in Barcelona
League leaders Real Madrid are in Barcelona to take on Vicente Moreno's Espanyol.
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All the information you need on how and where to watch Espanyol and Real Madrid's La Liga clash at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday, October 3.
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