Immediate Reaction: Espanyol 1-0 Real Madrid

Espanyol 1-0 Real Madrid. Points lost in La Liga. Here is a quick reaction to the loss. More for you: Player ratings, interviews and a podcast.

With Real Madrid managing to find some form in recent times, Espanyol away would surely be a case of take the three points and go - right? Well, fans would have been slightly aggrieved at the line-up including Lucas Vázquez at right-back, and Aurélien Tchouaméni at centre-back. Vinícius Júnior did return to the team after a spell away, with Dani Ceballos continuing to start in midfield. Lucas Vázquez captained Madrid this evening.

I have written these reactions for a long time now, and have never encountered a half of football as uneventful as the first 45 minutes here. Vinícius Júnior did score a goal that was not counted due a foul in the build-up, but that was literally it. Nothing required from both keepers at either end. 0-0 at the break, and cause for concern for Madrid.

Kylian Mbappé tried to make it a better viewing early in the second half with an effort off of the post - but this again was all that either side could muster up until the final quarter. Rodrygo Goes had a superb opportunity to give Madrid the lead, but was unable to capitalise, whilst Mbappé could not beat the keeper moments later. With minutes to spare, Espanyol took the lead as a player who should have been sent off earlier in the game tapped past Thibaut Courtois from close range. Madrid didn’t put up much of a fight after this truth be told, other than a Vinícius Júnior half chance - and crashed out in defeat with the final score reading 1-0 to the hosts. What went wrong here?

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