Real Madrid kept their slim La Liga title hopes alive on Sunday. They defeated Espanyol 2-0 at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. The win prevented leaders Barcelona from clinching the championship this weekend.
Carlo Ancelotti’s side entered the match knowing a loss or draw would hand the title to Barcelona. Barcelona sat 11 points clear at the top after 34 matches. Real Madrid occupied second place with 77 points.
The first half remained goalless. Espanyol defended deeply while Real Madrid controlled possession but struggled to break through. Vinicius Junior hit the woodwork early, yet the visitors failed to convert their dominance into goals before the break.
Real Madrid improved after halftime. Vinicius Junior opened the scoring in the 55th minute. He combined with midfielder Gonzalo Garcia on a one-two move and finished calmly. The Brazilian forward later described the goal as a team effort that lifted the squad.
Vinicius Junior added the second goal 11 minutes later. Midfielder Jude Bellingham delivered a clever backheeled pass. Vinicius Junior controlled the ball and fired it into the top corner. He raised his tally to 15 league goals this season.
Real Madrid kept a clean sheet for the first time in La Liga since February. The defense frustrated Espanyol’s attacks throughout the contest. The three points moved Real Madrid closer to second place but left them with a steep mountain to climb.
Barcelona now need results in their remaining fixtures, including next weekend’s El Clasico at the Camp Nou, to seal the title. Real Madrid bought themselves more time in the title race with this professional away performance.
