Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 on Sunday at RCDE Stadium, with Vinicius Junior scoring twice to delay FC Barcelona’s La Liga title celebrations. Barcelona now need a draw next weekend in El Clasico to seal the title.
Madrid controlled possession but created little before the break. Vinicius came closest when a deflected effort struck the post. Espanyol stayed compact and looked for set-pieces, with Andriy Lunin saving a header from Leandro Cabrera.
The game carried edge. Vinicius and Omar El Hilali clashed repeatedly. The referee first sent off El Hilali for a foul on Vinicius, then changed the decision to a yellow after a VAR review.
Madrid broke through early in the second half. Vinicius combined with Gonzalo García, drove into the box, and finished at the near post. The move exposed Espanyol’s back line, which struggled to track runners between the lines.
Vinicius struck again around ten minutes later. Jude Bellingham flicked a backheel into his path. The Brazilian set himself and curled a precise shot into the top corner.
Madrid pushed for a third through Bellingham and Gonzalo Garcia but did not convert. Espanyol offered little in response and remain without a win in 17 league matches.
The result cuts the gap to 11 points with four games left. Barcelona stay in control and can confirm the title at Camp Nou next Sunday against Madrid.
