Real Madrid delivered a strong performance at home against the significantly weaker Espanyol in La Liga’s sixth round.
Under coach Carlo Ancelotti, the team seems to be regaining form with consecutive victories in both La Liga and the Champions League since the international break. Thus, facing Espanyol was not expected to be a challenging task.
Playing at home against an inferior opponent, the Italian coach made some unusual lineup choices. Notably, Aurelien Tchouameni was moved to partner Eder Militao in central defense, allowing Antonio Rudiger a much-needed rest.
Left-back Ferland Mendy was also rested, with Fran Garcia starting instead. In midfield, Luka Modric made a rare start, teaming up with Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham. Up front, Vinicius Junior was benched, with Rodrygo taking the left-wing position, while Arda Güler and Kylian Mbappé started as well.
Despite the changes in the starting lineup, Real Madrid easily controlled the game thanks to their home advantage and superior player quality. Statistics showed that Los Blancos had 73% possession and made a total of 31 shots, 14 of which were on target.
Therefore, the fact that Real only scored four goals through Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo, Vinicius, and Mbappé was somewhat disappointing for fans. Espanyol managed to score a consolation goal, with Thibaut Courtois scoring an own goal.
With a final score of 4-1, Real Madrid temporarily reduced the gap with arch-rivals Barcelona to just one point on the table. However, Ancelotti’s squad could find themselves four points behind again if Barcelona defeats Villarreal in their match later tonight.
Here are the three standout players from Los Blancos in their match against Espanyol:
Vinicius Junior
Coming off the bench in the 58th minute for Güler, Vinicius had a significant impact on the game. He assisted Rodrygo’s goal that made it 2-1 in the 75th minute before scoring himself following a pass from Mbappé.
Jude Bellingham
Starting on the left side of a three-man midfield, Bellingham’s role was to supply the attack, which he executed well. Although he did not score or assist, the English international’s performance was impressive, constantly keeping the Espanyol defense on alert. There was a moment of concern when Bellingham held his shoulder after a collision.
Kylian Mbappé
The French star might not have delivered his best performance in this match, but he showcased the qualities of a top striker. Mbappé finished the game with one goal from a penalty and one assist.