Continuing with the trend of their season, Real Madrid endured yet another frustrating goalless first half before a chaotic own goal early in the second half handed Espanyol a shocking lead. However, second-half substitute Vinícius Júnior came to the rescue, first assisting Rodrygo for Madrid’s second goal after Dani Carvajal had already equalized. Vinícius then scored himself, and Kylian Mbappé added a late penalty to complete a 4-1 win at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Despite their early struggles to find the back of the net, Madrid completely dominated the match, as reflected in their 73% possession and 341 passes in Espanyol’s half, compared to just 71 from the visitors. Los Blancos also created a staggering eight big chances, while Espanyol failed to develop any. Madrid registered 14 shots on target, and Espanyol only managed one.
The second half started disastrously for Madrid, with an own goal that put Espanyol ahead despite the game’s flow. However, Madrid responded quickly through Dani Carvajal, who scored to level the match. Then, Vinícius Júnior, introduced as a second-half substitute, provided the spark Madrid needed. His assist to Rodrygo gave Madrid a deserved lead, bringing the score to 2-1.
Vinícius’ influence was undeniable, as his presence lifted the team after a nervous start to the second half. Kylian Mbappé, who had been heavily involved throughout, capped off the victory with a penalty in injury time, adding a fourth goal to round off the win. Mbappé had the highest xT in the game (0.36), underlining his constant danger to Espanyol’s defense.
Madrid’s control of the game was further highlighted by a field tilt of 77.84%, reflecting their dominance in Espanyol’s half. Despite losing more ground duels (27-29), Madrid’s intensity in pressing was effective, with a PPDA of 5.50 compared to Espanyol’s 18.36, meaning the visitors were rarely able to string together passes under pressure. Real Madrid’s xG of 4.46 to Espanyol’s 0.34 paints a clear picture of how the match unfolded, with Los Blancos creating a multitude of high-quality opportunities.
Luka Modric was the orchestrator in midfield, receiving 82 passes and completing 89 out of 97. His distribution was crucial in keeping Madrid ticking, as he contributed a match-high 36 progressive passes to break down Espanyol’s defensive lines. However, Espanyol’s Omar El Hilali was a defensive standout for the visitors, registering four tackles, but his efforts could only delay the inevitable as Madrid’s attack eventually overran Espanyol.
Madrid also won nine aerial duels to Espanyol’s six, and despite a defensive mistake leading to the opening goal, their average defensive height of 47.89 showed their high-pressing intent, which allowed them to keep Espanyol pinned back for much of the game.
While the scoreline suggests a comfortable victory, Madrid’s performance in the first half and the early part of the second half left much to be desired. The second-half revival, led by Vinícius Júnior and supported by Rodrygo and Mbappé, masked the underlying issues of the first half that Los Blancos still need to address.
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