Real Madrid made it two wins from two last Saturday, dispatching Celta Vigo 4-1 despite some early turbulence, thanks to the sustained brilliance of Luka Modric. Carlo Ancelotti’s side have a good record against today’s opponents, with eight wins in their last ten games - though both losses came at the RCDE Stadium.

🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔

Real Madrid made three changes from the side that beat Celta Vigo 4-1 last Saturday. Vazquez replaced Carvajal at right-back while Rudiger came into the back line for Mendy, pushing Alaba out to left-back. The last switch was in midfield, where the experienced Kroos got the nod ahead of Camavinga.

REAL MADRID XI (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Lucas Vazquez, Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, David Alaba; Luka Modric, Aurelien Tchouameni, Toni Kroos; Federico Valverde, Karim Benzema, Vinicius Junior.

SUBS: Andriy Lunin, Eden Hazard, Rodrygo, Luis Lopez, Eduardo Camavinga, Dani Carvajal, Marco Asensio, Mariano, Dani Ceballos, Ferland Mendy.

🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔

Espanyol followed up their opening-day draw away at Celta Vigo with a disappointing home loss to Rayo Vallecano on August 19. Diego Martinez’s side was looking to better their 14th-place finish from last season but faced a tricky fixture list early on, including trips to play Athletic Bilbao and Real Sociedad and a home match against Sevilla.

Espanyol made two changes from the XI that lost 2-0 to Rayo Vallecano last time out. Calero filled in for the suspended Sergi Gomez in defense, while Puado came in for Ribaudo.

ESPANYOL XI (4-2-3-1): Benjamin Lecomte; Brian Olivan, Leandro Cabrera, Fernando Calero, Oscar Gil; Sergi Darder, Edu Exposito; Javier Puado, Vinicius Souza, Ruben Sanchez; Joselu.

SUBS: Nabili Zoubdi Touaizi, Omar El Hilali, Angelo Fortuno, Wassim Keddari, Keidi Bare, Nicolas Melamed, Jose Carlos Lazo, Pere Joan, Daniel Villahermosa, Dani Gomez, Nico Ribaudo.

⏯️ Comença la segona meitat!
🔥 ¡¡¡Vamos!!!#EspanyolRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/quhvWxByjG

— RCD Espanyol de Barcelona (@RCDEspanyol) August 28, 2022

Real Madrid were moving up the pitch slowly, working neat passing triangles in midfield and moving it from left to right and back again in search of a way through Espanyol’s block. The match continued growing in the needle as Tchouameni’s interceptions and blocks hurt the opponent’s attacks. He was also carrying the ball up front to make life more difficult for the home team, who always end up in the wrong direction when they clash with the club of the century. Same story once again. They were approaching the wrong end once again despite playing a decent game.

🔥 That link-up though...
🅰️ @atchouameni ➡️ @ViniJr ⚽@LaLiga | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/VwAPnRXIb5

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 30, 2022

VINICIUS JUNIOR OPENS THE SCORING IN FANTASTIC STYLE! 1-0! Tchouameni strode forward and played a one-two pass with Vazquez 25 yards from goal. Vision and execution in equal measure for Tchouameni, who registered an assist for Real Madrid's opener, slipping a phenomenal disguised ball through the defensive line for Vinicius Junior. He opened up his body to steer the ball into the far corner!

It appeared as though Espanyol had changed shape slightly after conceding, changing to a 4-1-4-1 to allow Exposito to play higher up the pitch alongside Darder in order to supply Joselu. The striker hadn’t much to work with so far; however, the visitors dominated possession.

The first 30 minutes of the match had been dominated by Real Madrid, who had seen more than 70 percent of the ball while almost tripling Espanyol’s total passes. The hosts were yet to have a shot on Courtois’ goal while Lecomte had already been forced into two saves as well as the goal conceded.

🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔

Espanyol won just two of their last 27 meetings with Real Madrid in LaLiga (D3 L22), both occasions at home (1-0 in February 2018 and 2-1 in October 2021).

Their game was clearly suggesting that they were tired of the losing streak going on and on. They wanted it to halt. They were working hard, keeping their shape and holding the defensive line altogether. Finally, they got their reward in the last two minutes of the first half. Sanchez found Gil in a pocket of space on the right side of midfield just outside the penalty area, where he was allowed to pick out the perfect pass for Joselu. Courtois denied the striker’s first effort, but he regathered possession and tucked it away at the second time of asking! ESPANYOL EQUALISE! 1-1!

🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔

Real Madrid have conceded at least one goal in each of their last seven LaLiga away games (eight goals in total) - the last time Los Blancos conceded in more consecutive away games in the competition was between January and April 2019 (eight).

Espanyol were thrilled to take a draw into the interval, though it’s been a difficult evening for the hosts, who were made to chase the ball all game. Madrid wanted the top spot on the table. They were firing on all cylinders. Desperate to keep possession, Espanyol were not afraid to turn and give an answer-back.

🅢🅞🅤🅡🅒🅔

Not much time left. Madrid were still looking for an answer. They wanted it all. BENZEMA DOES WHAT HE DOES BEST! 2-1 REAL MADRID! It’s a delightful cross from Rodrygo, who dribbled into the penalty area and found room between two defenders to hook the ball across the box, to Benzema, who greets it with a side-foot volley into the bottom of the goal!

⚡ DEADLY!
⚽ @Benzema
🅰️ @RodrygoGoes@LaLigaEN | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/XJrjdJIXTT

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 30, 2022

The fourth official indicated six minutes would be added to the end of the game for stoppages. The hosts wanted to get at least something from the game, which was almost impossible. To pursue miracles, they became the joke of the nature. Lecomte is deemed to have volleyed the underside of Ceballos’ leg, getting to the ball late and instead catching the man right outside the penalty area. The goalkeeper was given his marching orders as captain Cabrera was tasked with going in goal.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! 3-1! Benzema took full advantage of Espanyol’s goalkeeper woes, sneaking his low effort into the bottom corner as Cabrera could only stare across his line in dismay.

🎯 @Benzema nailed it! 😏@LaLiga | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/zsFrSyD5p2

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 30, 2022

Espanyol will travel to play Athletic Bilbao in a week, while Real Madrid are back in action on Saturday when they host Real Betis.

---