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Match Report: 0-2 loss to Real Madrid
Battling RCD Espanyol fall at home
Despite a solid first half showing at the RCDE Stadium, RCD Espanyol de Barcelona lost 0-2 to Real Madrid in their LaLiga Matchday 34 encounter. Vinicius Jr. scored both of the visitors' goals in the second half.
Los Pericos came out with a lot of energy, aiming to recapture the form they had shown in the first half of the season and be the recognisable team that had been sturdy, precise, and incredibly effective in the opening months of the campaign.
They aimed to get close to goal as quickly as possible, eager to break through the lines and try to unsettle the Real Madrid defence. Roberto Fernández tried his luck shortly after the match got underway, and then Rubén unleashed a powerful shot from the edge of the penalty area that went just over the crossbar.
However, the first real scare for RCD Espanyol came when Vinicius Jr. hit the post after a rebound inside the box.
Manolo González' men didn't give up and continued to push forward. Terrats had a magnificent opportunity after a precise pass from Romero inside the area, but put too much lift on his eventual shot.
With back-and-forth action and Espanyol determined to attack, a couple of incidents could have changed the rhythm of the first 45 minutes. Vinicius Jr. received a yellow card for a foul on El Hilali, and a minute later, Gil Manzano initially showed the Espanyol defender a red card for a foul on the Real Madrid striker. VAR intervened and rectified the decision, reducing it to a yellow.
One last push before halftime remained, including a header from Cabrera that was the home side's best chance of the first period.
After the break, things remained the same. Espanyol came out determined to continue dominating possession. VAR did not review a possible red card offence by Trent Alexander-Arnold on Tyrhys Dolan that could have changed the course of the match.
However, from the first opportunity for Real Madrid in the second half, Vinicius Jr. latched onto a ball inside the area, cut inside and beat Dmitrovic to make it 0-1.
The goal was a crushing blow to Espanyol's morale, and they momentarily lost their rhythm and the good form they had shown up to that point, which Real Madrid took advantage of to score a second: An intuitive backheel from Bellingham teed him up to convert and make it 0-2.
Terrats created two dangerous approaches and Romero also sought to attack the opposition goal, but the score remained unchanged and RCD Espanyol suffered a harsh defeat.