With a great contribution from the Brazilian Vinicius, Real Madrid beat Espanyol at home, 3-1, this Saturday in LaLiga matchday 25. In addition, in this way he reduced to six points the disadvantage that separates him from FC Barcelona, leader with 62, who travels to Bilbao on Sunday.
Without Karim Benzema, the victim of a blow to his ankle, Real Madrid was first surprised in the 8th minute by a goal from Joselu. But he reacted well led by the Brazilian Vinicius, author of the equalizing goal after a personal move (22). After giving an assist for a header from his compatriot Eder Militao (39).
With victory almost assured, came Real Madrid’s third and last goal in discount against Espanyol, scored by Marco Asensio (90+3), after a play by Nacho.
After two consecutive draws in LaLiga, Real Madrid was reunited with victory. Four days before the Champions League round of 16 second leg match against Liverpool at the Santiago-Bernabéu. The one they won in the first leg 5-2 at Anfield, a team that was surprised this Saturday by Bournemouth (1-0).
Benzema could be restored for this continental event, Carlo Ancelotti assured on Friday. But on Saturday, the striker gave Vinicius the lead.
With his dribbling and crosses with the outside of his foot, the Brazilian prodigy once again produced a five-star encounter, and was warmly applauded by the Bernabéu when he was substituted on 90 minutes to make way for Álvaro Rodríguez.
With his goal, “Vini” surpassed Benzema and has become the top scorer for the “White House” this season, with 19 goals among all competitions (but with twelve games more than the Frenchman).
Vinicius led Real Madrid to victory against Espanyol
On the other hand, the afternoon was less pleasant for Eduardo Camavinga. The young French international, brilliant since the end of the World Cup in Qatar, was at the origin of the goal conceded by the Merengues, overwhelmed in control with the chest of Rubén Sánchez, author of the assist, and later committing a foul that led to a dangerous free kick (15).
Thanks to this victory, and one week into the Clásico of the second round of LaLiga at the Camp Nou (Sunday, March 19), Real Madrid have not completely abandoned their dreams of a LaLiga title.
The fight between the two mastodons of LaLiga extends outside the grounds, marked by “the Negreira case”: on Friday, the Spanish justice indicted Barça and former leaders for corruption with a former referee, and Real Madrid called an extraordinary meeting of the steering committee on Sunday afternoon, with the intention, according to the Spanish press, of asking to be part of the investigation process.
For Espanyol, this second setback in a row may put a bit of a brake on their good season. Although Joselu does not stop scoring: the center forward of the Catalan team is the second highest scorer in LaLiga, tied with the Turkish Enes Ünal (Getafe), with twelve goals in 22 games, one more than Karim Benzema (in 15 games).
