Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol - As it happened

Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol - As it happened

Re-live Real's 2-0 win over Espanyol at Bernabeu that enabled Zinedine Zidane's team to go four points clear at the top of the LaLiga standings.

FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol

It was a quiet comfortable win for Real despite the fact the goal that sealed it only came on 83 minutes, as Espanyol never showed any ambition to chase the equaliser. Isco and Morata put in great displays while Bale scored on his return from injury.

FT: #RealMadrid 2-0 @RCDEspanyol (@AlvaroMorata 33', @GarethBale11 83').#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/LIn0RJhXfQ

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017

Penalty decision changes to off-side

The referee signals the penalty spot after Ronaldo is held in the area but changes his decision after his assistant signals off-side. Ronaldo was definitely onside so the referee should have gone with his first decision

Real penalty appeal turned down

Ronaldo goes down in the area after a challenge by Duarte, he protests to the referee but the latter waves to play on

GOAL: Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol (Bale, 83 mins)

What a return by Bale as he scores one of his trademark goals, culminating a counter-attack by sloting in a superb through ball by Isco

83' GOOOOOOOOOAL by @GarethBale11!!! What a return!#RealMadrid 2-0 @RCDEspanyol #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/pi5Pmd9PSf

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017

Casemiro gets booked

For a late challenge on Perez

Substitution for Espanyol

Jurado is replaced by Alvaro Vazquez

Substitution for Real

Marcelo replaces Nacho

Martin gets booked

The Espanyol left back sees a yellow for holding Vazquez

Real miss another chance

Kross whips it in, Lucas Vazquez unleashes a first-time volley at the far post but it hits the side of the net

Change for Real, Bale returns

The Welshman replaces Morata to make his first appearance in three months

71' Second change as @GarethBale11 is introduced and @AlvaroMorata is replaced.#RealMadrid 1-0 @RCDEspanyol#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/dyakHxWaMp

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017

Big chance for Real

Morata crosses from the left and Ronaldo's header at the far post is just over the bar

Diop gets booked

For a harsh tackle on Casemiro

Real miss a chance

Lucas crosses and the Espanyol defence clears but it falls on Casemiro, who lashes over the bar

First substitution for Real

Casemiro replaces Kovacic, who played almost 50 minutes with stitches under his eye

Real earn their 10th corner of the game

Kroos delivers it, the Espanyol defence clears without drama

Into the wall

Ronaldo takes the free-kick himself but it inexplicably poor and he sends in straight into the wall

Free-kick to Real

In a dangerous position and Fuego gets booked for the foul on Ronaldo.

Isco gets booked

For pulling Perez from behind

Bale warming up

The Welsh looks set to return to action soon, for the first time since his injury three months previously

Second half begins

Real get us under way. Espanyol made a change at the interval as Hernan Perez has come on for Reyes

HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol

Real enjoyed 69% of possesion in the first half as they pushed Espanyol back in their own area and converted their one shot on goal, while they also had four more than were just off. Isco had a very good first 45 minutes while Morata was a constant threat and of course scored the only goal so far. 

HT: #RealMadrid 1-0 @RCDEspanyol (@AlvaroMorata 33').#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/gboxF7J5WJ

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017

Madrid penalty appeal rejected

Morata goes down in the area following a challenge from behind by David Lopez, the referee waves to play on. Morata protests but it did not look like a penalty. Real should have been given a corner though cause the Espanyol defender was the last to touch the ball

Kovacic gets booked

The Real Madrid midfielder sees a yellow for tripping Piatti.

Another big chance for Real

Isco turns a defender inside out down the left this time, curls it at the near post to Morata whose left-foot strike is just wide

GOAL: Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol (Morata, 33 mins)

Isco sends in a great cross from the right flank and it is met with a text-book header by Morata to give Real the lead

@AlvaroMorata celebrates giving us the lead with the man who provided his assist, @isco_alarcon.#RealMadrid 1-0 @RCDEspanyol #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/ioQQd660Ho

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017

Real goal ruled out

Ronaldo scores but he has been correctly been signalled off-side before receiving the ball 

Huge chance for Real

Ronaldo makes a great run from the right, rolls it over to Morata who is unmarked at the far post but a sliding tackle from Duarte prevents him from shooting at the very last instance

Free-kick to Madrid

Kross curls it in, Morata takes the header and it flies just a centimetre over the bar, but the assistant has raised the flag for off-side

Kovacic takes knock in the face

The Real Madrid midfielder needs stitches underneath the eye following a clash in the air with Diop

Chance for Real

Morata turns a defender inside out in the area, but his shot is blocked by Reyes

Real miss their first chance

Madrid earn their first corner kick, Kroos whips it in towards Pepe at the far post, but his header misses the target

First corner kick for Espanyol

David Lopez rises higher than the Madrid defence but his header is over the bar

Kick-off!

Espanyol get us under way at the Bernabeu

Three minutes to kick-off

The teams are coming out of the tunnel.

#RMLiga
Kick-off fast approaching!#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/tOmdFBwtCj

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017

Gareth Bale is back in the Real Madrid squad for the first time since his injury three months ago, but he starts on the bench. Here are the starting line-ups for both teams:

Real Madrid XI: Casilla, Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Nacho, Kroos, Kovacic, Isco, Lucas Vázquez, Ronaldo, Morata.

Subs: Rubén Yáñez, Marcelo, James, Asensio, Casemiro, Bale, Mariano.

Espanyol XI: Diego López, Diego Reyes, David López, Óscar Duarte, Aarón, Javi Fuego, Diop, Reyes, Piatti, Jurado, Gerard.

Subs: Roberto, Rubén Duarte, Víctor Álvarez, Caicedo, Hernán Pérez, Marc Roca, Álvaro.

Follow live updates as Real Madrid host Espanyol for Round 23 in the Spanish LaLiga.