Espanyol Stuns Real Madrid With Last-Minute Victory In La Liga

Struggling RCD Espanyol managed to upset league leaders Real Madrid with a stunning 1-0 victory at the RCDE Stadium.

This win marked a significant boost for Espanyol as they climbed out of the relegation zone and also ended Real Madrid’s impressive run of five consecutive victories across all competitions.

Two Halves of Football

Real Madrid arrived in Cornella with high hopes after a commanding 3-0 win in the UEFA Champions League earlier in the week, which had extended their winning streak to four matches, averaging an impressive 3.25 goals per game during that stretch.

However, the team struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages of the match against Espanyol, who were determined to make a statement.

The match took a turn for the worse for Real Madrid when defender Antonio Rüdiger was forced off due to injury in the opening quarter. Despite dominating possession with three-quarters of the ball in the first half, the reigning champions found it challenging to create clear-cut chances.

The only notable moment came from Espanyol’s Jofre Carreras, whose well-struck drive was expertly saved by Thibaut Courtois.

As the half progressed, Real Madrid thought they had taken the lead when Vinicius Junior found the net, but the goal was disallowed due to a foul committed by Kylian Mbappé on Pol Lozano. This setback seemed to deflate Madrid’s attacking momentum, and it wasn’t until the 39th minute that they managed their first shot on target, which came from Jude Bellingham.

Unfortunately for the visitors, Bellingham’s curling effort was comfortably saved by Joan García.

Missed Opportunities

After the break, Real Madrid came out with renewed spirit, eager to assert their dominance. Within eight minutes, they had an excellent opportunity when a powerful strike from Bellingham created a rebound, but Mbappé was unable to convert.

Dani Ceballos then tested García with another attempt, but the Espanyol keeper was up to the task again, maintaining the scoreline.

As the match wore on, Madrid continued to push for a breakthrough. In-form Rodrygo displays his skill by weaving through Espanyol’s defense, only to see his shot ricochet off García and the post, denying Madrid yet another chance.

Just moments later, Mbappé tried his luck from the left side, but once again, García was equal to the task, stretching to make a crucial save.

Espanyol, on the other hand, adopted a more cautious approach, focusing on counterattacks that failed to yield significant threats until the closing stages.

The Stunning Conclusion

With just five minutes remaining, Espanyol seized their moment. After clearing a Madrid free-kick, the home side launched a counterattack, pushing numbers forward.

Omar El Hilali delivered a precise cross to the far post, where Carlos Romero was waiting to volley the ball home, sending the home crowd into a frenzy. The goal stunned the Madrid players and also shifted the momentum entirely in favor of Espanyol.

Despite a tense seven minutes of added time, Espanyol held firm, securing a memorable victory that marked their third home win in the last six meetings against Real Madrid.

This result was particularly significant as it reduced Madrid’s lead at the top of the table to just one point, adding intrigue to the title race.