LEAGUES
Espanyol v Real Madrid - as it happened
by Paul Singh
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0
7,110
LIVE
94'
FT: Espanyol 0-1 Real Madrid!! All over at the RCDE Stadium! It's was straight forward for the away side. RM were the better side in the first half and scored through Casemiro after a lovely heel flick by Benzema while the second half was very poor to watch. RM were comfortable and very content with the 0-1 lead while Espanyol had nothing more than a few half chances. It's all but curtains for Espanyol at the bottom while RM go back top. Thanks for joining us and see you again soon!
94'
Free-kick to Espanyol, it's taken quickly by RDT, the ball is sent to Calleri, Ramos doesn't deal with it and Marcelo heads Calleri's cross for a corner. There's no time for the corner and it's all over.
93'
Espanyol could play for another week and wouldn't score...
92'
A RM cross into the box by Carvajal is caught by D Lopez.
90'
Four added minutes.
88'
Bernardo is so close to getting on the end of a free-kick and the ball passes past the far post. 0-1 is never enough.
87'
Vinicius is carded for a foul on Melendo.
86'
The game has been very dull in the second half. RM are happy to keep it 0-1 while Espanyol have not looked capable of scoring.
85'
Espanyol send a long ball in, RDT can't control and Courtois comes out to clear.
84'
Espanyol sub: Lozano on for David Lopez.
82'
Good move involving Rodrygo and Vinicius, but it just ends in a throw in.
80'
Plenty of contact, players are going down, but the referee tells them to get up.
78'
Back underway!
76'
Drinks!
74'
Melamed passes to David Lopez in the middle whose tame effort is easily stopped by the goalie.
72'
Little to report here in the last few minutes. I think RM should try and score a second.
69'
Espanyol double sub: Embarba and Darder are replaced by Calleri and Melamed Ribaudo who is just 19.
67'
Pedrosa goes in the book for a foul on behind on Carvajal.
66'
RDT hits it, the ball bounces in front of Courtois and he goes down to his right to save.
65'
Vinicius fouls Melendo and Espanyol have a free-kick in a good position here.
62'
RM double sub: Isco and Hazard are replaced by Rodrygo and Vinicius.
58'
Hazard does a rabona and wins a corner off the defender.
57'
Espanyol sub: Melendo replaces Wu Lei.
57'
Marcelo is hacked down by the Espanyol man.
54'
Casemiro's free-kick strikes the wall.
53'
Hazard is fouled just outside the box by Bernardo.
52'
RM are fairly comfortable here.
51'
Lopez!!!! A long possession for RM ends with an Isco cross volleyed by Benzema towards Lopez from a tight angle.
49'
Opportunity for Espanyol!!! RM lose the ball, Espanyol attack down the far side and Wu Lei turns the cross towards the Belgian who saves comfortably.
46'
RM get us going again!
46'
Espanyol HT sub: Pedrosa on for Vila.
45'
HT: Espanyol 0-1 Real Madrid! Half-time in Barcelona and RM have been the better side, but Espanyol have also threatened especially early on. Casemiro scored just before the break after a sensational backheel by Benzema. Casemiro had three clear chances for RM before that and Ramos also had a chance. Roca and Darder have come the closest for the home side. Back for more in a bit!
45'
Espanyol take too long to attack and the half ends!
45'
Three extra minutes are played
45'
Casemiro gets the goal, but Benzema's assist was not just any old assist.
45'
What a goal by RM!!!! A cross field pass by Marcelo, Ramos heads to Benzema who backheels to Casemiro in the middle and he fires home! Benzema's backheel was sensational. The backheel megged the defender!
44'
Pinbal in the Espanyol box!!!! Isco's cross is misjudged by Lopez, Benzema can't shoot, Casemiro's shot hits Benzema, then the clearance hits an RM man and then a shot is knocked over by the GK! Pinball!
43'
Isco is brought down 30 yards from goal.
41'
RM threaten again down the far side, but the ball into the box by Hazard is blocked by Cabrera.
39'
Free-kick to RM after Kroos is kicked.
36'
Tremendous save by Lopez!!! Benzema is given the ball by Kroos, he cuts inside and his strike has to be tipped over the diving GK!
34'
Back underway!
30'
Kroos' free-kick is headed by Ramos at Lopez and it's time for drinks!
29'
It was a clear dive. What a stupid thing to do.
27'
Wu Lei goes down wanting a foul 25 yards out from goal after combining with Embarba, but the ref says he dived.
26'
What are Espanyol doing? The GK and the defender on the edge of the box are passing the ball amongst themselves with RM players waiting to pounce. Crazy.
24'
Chance for Espanyol, but the flag's up! Lopez's long punt is headed by a couple of Espanyol players, Embarba passes to Wu Lei who hits over. Casemiro went down after getting caught in the face. He's up now though.
24'
Casemiro sends a nice long pass for Isco, but he can't reach it.
22'
Isco is caught offside near the Espanyol area.
20'
What a save by Courtois! Roca's free-kick is I think flicked on by a head and Courtois has to make a fine stop.
19'
RM lose the ball, Espanyol attack and Gomez is brought down by Ramos on this near side. Isco wanted a free-kick at the other end.
16'
RM passing the ball around near Espanyol's half waiting for the opening.
13'
Chance for Casemiro!! The corner is flicked on by Varane's head at the near post and Casemiro heads over the goal!
13'
Marcelo's shot is deflected behind for a corner.
10'
Chance for Ramos! Kroos' free-kick sees the ball break to Casemiro, he hits a fierce cross and Ramos heads over from a few yards out.
9'
Free-kick to RM after Isco goes down.
8'
Casemiro almost beats Diego Lopez!!!! He shoots from 60 yards because the Espanyol GK goes for a walk and the backpeddling Lopez has to get a hand to it. Lesson for the Lopez.
6'
Espanyol attack through Embarba and RDT, the ball then goes to Wu Lei and his poor pass ends the move.
5'
RM have some possession in Espanyol's half, but do nothing with it.
3'
Espanyol! What a chance!!! Wu Lei gets on the end of a pass, he runs down the near side and passes for Darder in the middle, but his shot is blocked by Carvajal. The ball then rebounds off the former Malaga man and goes for a goal kick.
1'
Embarba hits it and it's straight at the goalie.
1'
Free-kick to Espanyol for a foul on Embarba after 20 seconds. It's in a dangerous area.
1'
Espanyol get us going from left to right! RM in green, Espanyol in their usual kit.
Prev.
Antonio Mateu Lahoz is the referee for this one while Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea is the VAR.
Prev.
It's 25 degrees and dry in Barcelona this evening.
Prev.
There's normally talk of Espanyol being happy to let RM win to prevent Barca from winning the title when these two meet, but given Espanyol's desperate situation, I think Espanyol will 100% want to win this match.
Prev.
Espanyol make several modifications from the Betis loss. Pedrosa, Naldo, Pipa, Iturraspe, Calleri and Campuzano all drop out while Cabrera, Bernardo (returning from suspension), Vila, Gomez, RDT and Wu Lei play tonight.
Prev.
RM make four changes from the Mallorca match. Marcelo replaces Mendy in defence while Kroos, Casemiro and Isco are the other players to come in. Modric, Bale and Vinicius drop out.
Prev.
Espanyol lost 1-0 at Betis last time out and that saw their manager Abelardo sacked while Real Madrid beat Mallorca 2-0. Rufete, the Espanyol sporting director, has taken temporary charge of the Catalans.
Prev.
20th v 2nd. 24pts v 68pts. RM will go two points clear (effectively three with the h2h) with three points here while Espanyol are 10 points off safety with 21 points left to play for. A loss here would put them in major trouble.
Prev.
Real Madrid XI: Courtois (GK); Marcelo, Ramos, Varane, Carvajal; Kroos, Casemiro, Valverde; Hazard, Benzema and Isco.
Prev.
Espanyol XI: D Lopez (GK); D Vila, Cabrera, Bernardo, Gomez; Embarba, Roca, David Lopez, Darder; RDT and Wu Lei.
Prev.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the La Liga match between Espanyol and Real Madrid.
