REAL Madrid’s perfect start to their La Liga campaign continued with a hard-fought victory against Espanyol on Saturday to make it five wins from five.
Espanyol set up with a low block, and, for the most part, it nullified Real’s attacking threat, preventing them from being able to make the most of their trademark fluid football.
It took a moment of individual brilliance from Eder Militao to open the scoring when the Brazilian defender sent a 30-yard rocket into the top corner after 22 minutes.
A defensive lapse of concentration from Espanyol then allowed Kylian Mbappe to deliver the second goal just after the break, the Frenchman being left unmarked on the edge of the box to fire inside the near post after being set up by Vinicius Jr.
It was Mbappe’s seventh goal in six games in all competitions this season for Real.
England midfielder Jude Bellingham, who had surgery on a long-standing shoulder issue in July, made his first appearance since this summer’s Club World Cup, returning as an 89th-minute substitute.
Defeat brings to an end a good start to the campaign for Espanyol, who had won three and drawn one of their fixtures before Saturday. (BBC Sport)