By Real Madrid overcame an early second-half shock to defeat Espanyol 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, with Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe spearheading a remarkable turnaround that extends Los Blancos’ unbeaten league run to 38 matches.
The hosts dominated the first half but were frustrated by Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, who made several key saves to deny Mbappe. Despite Real Madrid’s relentless pressure, which saw them control 73% of possession and register 31 shots throughout the match, the teams went into halftime deadlocked at 0-0.
Espanyol stunned the Bernabeu crowd in the opening stages of the second half when Jofre’s driven cross was inadvertently diverted into his own net by Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The goal briefly silenced the 78,000 spectators, but Real’s response was swift and decisive.
Dani Carvajal equalized in the 58th minute, capitalizing on a rare error from Garcia who failed to deal with Jude Bellingham’s low cross. The introduction of Vinicius Junior off the bench proved to be the turning point of the match.
The Brazilian winger showcased his creative brilliance in the 75th minute, providing an exquisite assist for Rodrygo with the outside of his right foot. Just three minutes later, Vinicius turned scorer, finishing off a lightning-fast counterattack initiated by Mbappe to give Real Madrid a 3-1 lead.
Mbappe, who had been a constant threat throughout the match, creating seven chances for his teammates, put the final nail in Espanyol’s coffin with an 88th-minute penalty. The French superstar sent Garcia the wrong way after Endrick was fouled in the box by Carlos Romero.
“We showed great character and quality to turn this game around,” said Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti in the post-match press conference. “Vinicius and Mbappe were exceptional in the second half, but it was a complete team performance.”
The victory moves Real Madrid to within one point of league leaders Barcelona, who face Villarreal on Sunday. For Espanyol, the defeat is a harsh reminder of the challenge they face to avoid relegation, despite their spirited first-half performance.
Real Madrid now turn their attention to a midweek clash with Alaves before a highly anticipated derby against Atletico Madrid. Espanyol, meanwhile, must regroup quickly as they prepare to host Villarreal next weekend at the RCDE Stadium.
Match Statistics:
Possession: Real Madrid 73% – 27% Espanyol
Shots: Real Madrid 31 – 10 Espanyol
Shots on target: Real Madrid 14 – 1 Espanyol
Corners: Real Madrid 9 – 4 Espanyol
Fouls: Real Madrid 7 – 5 Espanyol
Man of the Match: Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid)
