League leader Real Madrid was dealt with a shock defeat away from home after Espanyol enjoyed a 1-0 victory at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona on Saturday. Real Madrid loses points in LA LIGA. Espanyol away would surely be a case of take the three points and go.Well, fans would have been slightly aggrieved at the line-up including Lucas Vázquez at right-back, and Aurélien Tchouaméni at centre-back. Vinícius Júnior did return to the team after a spell away, with Dani Ceballos continuing to start in midfield. Lucas Vázquez captained Madrid this evening.
Carlos Romero scored the only goal of the match as Espanyol recorded 1-0 on Saturday night’s La Liga contest in Catalonia.
Los Blancos entered the match knowing that a victory would move them four points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid at the top and 10 ahead of third-placed Barcelona ahead of the latter’s clash with Alaves on Sunday.
However, relegation-threatened Espanyol stunned the reigning champions courtesy of a late goal from Romero, with his effort securing a famous three points for the Catalan side.
Real Madrid entered the match off the back of five straight wins in all competitions, scoring 20 times in the process, but an improving Espanyol had quietly picked up five points from their last three in the league and suffered just one defeat in their last six.
That being said, not too many would have predicted what occurred on Saturday evening, with Real Madrid simply stunned.
In truth, Los Blancos should have put the game beyond their opponents by the latter stages of the match, with Ancelotti’s side having 21 shots, but it was an off-night for their attacking players, with vinicuis Junior and Kylian Mbappe in particular struggling to make their mark.
However Kylian Mbappé tried to make it a better viewing early in the second half with an effort off of the post – but this again was all that either side could muster up until the final quarter. Rodrygo Goes had a superb opportunity to give Madrid the lead, but was unable to capitalise, whilst Mbappé could not beat the keeper moments later. With minutes to spare, Espanyol took the lead as a player who should have been sent off earlier in the game tapped past Thibaut Courtois from close range. Madrid didn’t put up much of a fight after this truth be told, other than a Vinícius Júnior half chance – and crashed out in defeat with the final score reading 1-0 to the hosts
Real Madris who lost Antonio Rudger to an injury in the early stages, remain top of the division and still in charge of the title race, but this was a huge setback against a side that are battling to remain in La Liga for the 2024-25 campaign, particular as it has come ahead of the Madrid derby next weekend.