Goal

List of goalscorers

M. Asensio
41'
1 - 0
Press

Match report in news

End of match

End of match

  • 93'
    FT: Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol. Marco Asensio's first-half strike is enough to hand the hosts victory here and move them back top of the LaLiga table. Whilst they dominated the ball for long spells Real Madrid looked unconvincing in attack in what was a lethargic display and almost came unstuck when Borja Iglesias rattled the bar.
  • 92'
    Asensio's touch lets him down as a potential counter breaks down. That could be that.
  • 90'
    3 minutes added on.
  • 89'
    Can Espanyol create one more chance?
  • 86'
    You sense there may be another goal in this one now, but which way it will go is anyone's guess. Espanyol are really having a go.
  • 83'
    Real Madrid counter at pace but Llorente can only fire straight at Lopez! The game is opening up massively now and Julen Lopetegui is looking a nervous man on the sidelines.
  • 82'
    Ramos does well to prevent Baptistao from getting a clear shot on goal and deflecting his effort behind for a corner.
  • 81'
    Asensio shifts through the gears in midfield and tries to shape on from 20 yards but his gets his effort all wrong and it flies harmlessly wide.
Substitution

Substitution

at Real Madrid
  • 79'
    Isco makes way for Marcos Llorente in Real Madrid's final change.
Card

Yellow card

a Real Madrid
  • 77'
    Casemiro brings down Iglesias just outside the box and is promptly booked for his troubles. This is a great position for the visitors.
Substitution

Substitution

at Espanyol
  • 70'
    Sergio Garcias replaces Hernan Perez in Espanyol's final throw of the dice.
  • 68'
    Mariano sees an effort deflected behind from an Asensio cut-back.
  • 65'
    OFF THE BAR! A horrible mistake from Sergio Ramos sees him present the ball to Borja Iglesias and he is suddenly clear. Ramos chases back and as Courtois comes off his line the striker scoops the ball over his head and towards the far corner, only for it to crack the crossbar and bounce back into play. So close for the visitors!
  • 64'
    Iglesias has another go from the edge of the box but his tame effort is easily gathered by Courtois.
  • 63'
    Iglesias controls a long ball forward before driving for goal and his low effort is deflected behind for a corner, which is taken short and comes to nothing.
Substitution

Substitution

at Real Madrid
  • 63'
    Another change for the hosts as Lucas Vazquez replaces Dani Ceballos.
  • 60'
    Benzema makes way for Mariano for Real Madrid.
Substitution

Substitution

at Espanyol
  • 55'
    A double change from the visitors as Victor Sanchez and Leo Baptistao replace Sergi Darder and Pablo Piatti.
  • 53'
    A moment of panic at the back for the hosts as Espanyol threaten to create an opening but they recover to see off the danger.
  • 49'
    CLOSE! Isco fires in a wonderful effort from 25 yards as he tries to pick out the far corner but it fizzes inches wide. There already looks to be more intensity from Real Madrid in this second half.
  • 48'
    Modric forces an early save from Lopez with a left-footed effort after being picked out by Ceballos, but the goalkeeper is equal to it.
  • 46'
    Espanyol get us back underway here!
  • 45'
    HT: Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol. Marco Asensio's goal is the difference between the two sides at the break. It had been looking like being a frustrating evening for the hosts, who enjoyed plenty of the ball without truly threatening. Espanyol also went close themselves on a couple of occasions but Asensio finally got the breakthrough just before the interval.
  • 45'
    It's a good ball in from the goalscorer and whilst Nacho is there to meet it in the middle he can't guide his glancing header on target.
Card

Yellow card

a Espanyol
  • 45'
    Javi Lopez is booked for clipping the heels of Ramos out on the left. Asensio will swing this one in.
  • 45'
    Ramos and Casemiro appear to be in some discomfort after clattering into each other whilst trying to attack a cross.
Goal
Goaaaaaal!
de Real Madrid en el 41'
  • 41'
    GOAL! REAL MADRID! ASENSIO! 1-0! The golden boy strikes! Modric picks him out on the left-hand side of the box with a lovely reverse pass and he fires low across the goalkeeper and into the far corner. Espanyol ask the question about offside but we go to VAR which says there is no infringement.
  • 39'
    Varane comes to the rescue for Real Madrid as Espanyol look to counter. Piatti picks up the ball on halfway and Iglesias is streaking away in the middle screaming for the ball, but the Frenchman comes across to dispossess the winger.
  • 35'
    CHANCE! Espanyol counter and it's two-on-two! Hernan Perez drives at Sergio Ramos before cutting inside him on the edge of the box and taking aim left-footed, but his powerful effort is parried away by Courtois.
  • 33'
    CHANCE! Isco sends in the corner from the right and Casemiro meets it in the middle, but he can only guide his header a yard or so wide of the far post. As you were.
  • 33'
    Modric's curling effort from range is deflected behind for a corner.
  • 32'
    Ramos is playing so advanced in possession he's almost in a defensive midfield position, not that it has helped the hosts so far.
  • 29'
    Still no shots on target from the hosts, whilst the sight of Isco dribbling away from players inside his own box is likely to cause more than a few palpitations among the Madrid faithful.
  • 26'
    The Croatian's delivery is good but Espanyol do their jobs to clear.
Card

Yellow card

a Espanyol
  • 26'
    Marc Roca goes into the book for a late challenge on Ceballos out on the left. Modric will swing the free-kick in.
  • 24'
    A few passages of more scrappy play now. Espanyol don't look like a side that is likely to roll over and let Real Madrid beat them.
  • 21'
    Odriozola gets the chance to swing in another cross from the right but this one is too long and comes to nothing.
  • 19'
    Sergio Ramos joins the attack and takes aim from 30 yards but his effort is charged down. You sense Real Madrid will need to be patient tonight.
  • 14'
    CHANCE! Real Madrid lose possession inside their own half and Espanyol seize on it. The ball is fed out to Piatti on the edge of the box, but his low drive is dragged just wide of the far post.
  • 12'
    Almost a chance from out of nothing for the visitors! Darder looks to send Iglesias in over the top with a raking pass, but he can't bring the ball under his spell and Real Madrid survive.
  • 10'
    Real Madrid are remaining patient in their build-up play here, with Dani Ceballos in the middle of the park seeing plenty of the ball in the opening exchanges.
Card

Yellow card

a Real Madrid
  • 6'
    Nacho is booked for protesting after not being given a free-kick just inside the Espanyol half.
  • 5'
    Granero has the ball nicked off him in midfield and Real Madrid spring into action, with Ceballos finding Odriozola out on the right, but Isco can only send his low cross a yard or so wide. The hosts are looking lively early on here.
  • 4'
    Asensio and Nacho combine down the left but the latter delays his pass too long and Asensio strays offside.
  • 2'
    Odriozola's first raid forward down to right comes to nothing as the ball rebounds back off him in a challenge and out for a goal kick.
  • 1'
    We're underway here in the Spanish capital!
Start of match

Start of match

  • PRVW
    The players are out on the Bernabeu pitch and we'll be underway imminently!
  • PRVW
    The warm-ups are underway here:
  • PRVW
    Will Gareth Bale continue his excellent record against Espanyol at the Bernabeu today? He'll have to do it from the bench if so...
  • PRVW
    Here's how these two sides have fared recently going into this one:
  • PRVW
    Espanyol boss Rubi: "We go with the flag of hope, but if we do not work hard and with efficiency then there is nothing to do. We are in a good moment and we travel with the intention of battling to win the match. We hope that the team can compete as much as possible to get the three points."
  • PRVW
    Real Madrid boss Julen Lopetegui: "It's set to be a very demanding game, I'm sure of it. They are a much-improved team and they're well rounded in several aspects. They've had all week to get ready for this game and we'll be forced to play very well if we want to win. It's the toughest test we've faced so far this season at the Bernabéu. That's the way the fixtures fall. We've got seven games in three weeks. It's normal at a Champions League team and a club like Real Madrid."
  • PRVW
    Espanyol opt to pack the midfield as they make three changes from their 1-0 win over Levante last weekend, with Naldo, Pablo Piatti and Hernan Perez coming in for David Lopez, Sergio Garcia and Leo Baptistao.
  • PRVW
    Espanyol: Diego Lopez; Javi Lopez, Mario Hermoso, Naldo, Didac Vila; H.Perez, Darder, Granero, Marc Roca, Piatti; Borja Iglesias. Subs: Roberto, Rosales, O.Durte, O.Melendo, Victor Sanchez, L.Baptistao, Sergio Garcia.
  • PRVW
    Julen Lopetegui shuffles his pack following his side's midweek exertions, with Alvaro Odriozola coming in for his debut at right-back and Nacho filling in for Marcelo on the left. Toni Kroos and Gareth Bale also drop out of the team, with Dani Ceballos and Marco Asensio coming in.
  • PRVW
    Real Madrid: Courtois; Odriozola, Varane, Ramos, Nacho; Casemiro, Ceballos, Modric; Asensio, Benzema, Isco. Subs: Navas, Malrcelo, Valverde, Marcos Llorente, Lucas Vazquez, Bale, Mariano.
  • PRVW
    With Barcelona not playing until Sunday, Real Madrid have the perfect chance to ramp up the pressure on their bitter rivals. However, the visitors will be no push-overs, as Real Madrid discovered last time these two sides met, with Gerard Moreno firing home a stoppage-time winner to hand Espanyol a 1-0 win.
  • PRVW
    Both sides have enjoyed solid starts to the new campaign, with the hosts second with 10 points from a possible 12 and Espanyol sitting fifth having lost only once.
Info

Pre-match

22 September 2018, 20:45

Referee: Mateu Lahoz | VAR: De Burgos Bengoetxea

Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu

  • PRVW
    Hello and welcome to today's coverage of the LaLiga clash between Real Madrid and Espanyol from the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu!