Real Madrid failed to restore their four-point lead at the top of LALIGA after a late 1-0 loss to Espanyol on Saturday night.
LALIGA
Result: Espanyol 0-1 Real Madrid
Date: 01 February 2025
Venue: RCDE Stadium
Carlo Ancelotti made three changes for Los Blancos after the midweek UEFA Champions League action, as Fran Garcia, Dani Ceballos and Vinicius Junior returned to the starting line-up.
The visitors were forced into a change after 15 minutes when star defender Antonio Rudiger limped off and was replaced by Raul Asencio.
Los Blancos had the ball in the back of the net after the 20-minute mark through Vinicius' neat finish, but the celebrations were cut short due to a foul just before ball went in.
Ancelotti's men continued to dominate thereafter but they found it tough to breakdown as Espanyol side who were quite happy to sit back and soak up the pressure for most of the first half.
The hosts did come out firing in the second half and they should have taken the lead five minutes in, but Carlos Romero sent his effort over the target with only goalkeeper Thibuat Courtois to beat.
It was one-way traffic after that though, with Vinicius and Jude Bellingham seeing a lot of the ball as visitors pushed for the opening goal.
The visitors nearly got their reward in the 76th minute when Rodrygo weaved his way into the box and carved out some space before seeing his low strike crash against the upright before goalkeeper Joan Garcia could gather.
However, Espanyol got the breakthrough with six minutes left on the clock as a swift counter-attack ended with Romero volleying home a cross from Omar Khayat.
