Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-1 with a late goal from Carlos Espi

Real Madrid won 2-1 away at Espanyol on 22 August. Jude Bellingham scored first for Madrid, but Espanyol later equalised.

Carlos Espi delivered the winning goal in the final minutes. The late finish allowed Madrid to take all three points from a match in which the visitors did not control every period.

Espanyol defended well against Madrid

The home defenders and midfielders stayed close together and stopped Madrid from advancing easily through the centre. Espanyol also passed forward after winning the ball. Madrid therefore could not send every player into attack. Madrid had more of the ball but did not create many clear chances. Several attacks ended because a pass near goal arrived too late and gave the defence time to recover.

Madrid needed patience and had to move Espanyol’s defenders from side to side before attacking the penalty area.

Bellingham scored Madrid’s first goal

Bellingham’s goal rewarded his movement beyond the midfield line. He arrived where the attack needed an additional runner and completed the chance instead of remaining outside the penalty area. Taking the lead should have allowed Madrid to control the pace. Espanyol continued to recover loose balls and did not stay near its own goal for the rest of the match.

Madrid’s midfield needed to support the attack and still remain ready for a counterattack. Espanyol looked most dangerous when Madrid left too few players behind the ball.

Espanyol equalised after increasing the pressure

Espanyol equalised and made the closing minutes uncertain. The goal followed a period in which Madrid left too much space between its players. The home side used that space to move the ball forward.

At 1-1, Espanyol could keep a valuable point. Madrid had to attack without allowing an easy counterattack.

Madrid moved more players forward to increase the pressure, but its defenders then had to stop several attacks without much support.

Espi decided the match in the closing minutes

Espi entered the penalty area and scored the winning goal near the end. His goal turned a possible draw into a victory for Madrid. Espanyol’s defenders were tired, but Espi still had to finish the chance. He remained calm and sent the ball past the goalkeeper.

Espanyol had little time to create another chance. Madrid then focused on keeping the ball away from its own penalty area until the final whistle.

Madrid still have parts of their game to improve

Madrid earned an important away victory, but the performance was uneven. The team scored the winning goal but had earlier allowed Espanyol to equalise. The coaches will study the distance between midfield and defence after the team loses the ball. Better support would help Madrid stop direct counterattacks.

Espanyol earned no points despite playing well for long periods. Madrid won 2-1 because Espi scored from the final clear chance of the match.

Espi used his chance

A young forward may receive only a few passes in a difficult away match. Espi stayed close to his teammates in attack and entered the penalty area for Madrid’s last chance. He scored the winning goal from that opportunity.

Madrid will still need a more stable performance in the next round. The late goal should not hide the period when Espanyol recovered many loose balls and advanced through midfield. Madrid can create earlier chances by giving the player with the ball more passing options. The same support will help the team defend after losing possession.

Espi also gave the coach a useful option from the bench. His runs toward goal changed the position of Espanyol’s defenders and opened a small space near goal. The winning attack showed why substitutes must understand the match before they enter the field. A short appearance can still decide the result when the player chooses the correct moment to run.