Real Madrid suffered a costly defeat at Espanyol on Saturday evening. Moreover, Los Blancos failed to score for the first time in seventeen matches.
Real Madrid suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat against Espanyol in Barcelona, a result that complicates their title race in La Liga.
Just four days after their hard-fought Champions League victory over Stade Brest, Carlo Ancelotti’s side returned to domestic action with the clear objective of maintaining their lead over Atlético Madrid. However, they faced a determined Espanyol team that refused to be intimidated by the league leaders and put in a resilient display that ultimately led to a famous victory.
From the opening minutes, Real Madrid dominated possession, circulating the ball with patience in search of openings in Espanyol’s well-organized defense. The home side, aware of the visitors’ attacking firepower, adopted a disciplined approach, closing down spaces and looking to hit on the counterattack. Despite their control of the ball, Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances in the early stages, as Espanyol’s backline remained compact and disciplined.
After half an hour, it seemed that Madrid had finally found the breakthrough. Vinícius Júnior, always a threat with his pace and trickery, curled a beautiful right-footed shot into the top corner, sending the Madrid bench into celebration. However, the joy was short-lived. Referee Alejandro Muñiz Ruiz was called into action and, after consulting with VAR, ruled out the goal due to an attacking foul by Kylian Mbappé in the buildup. The decision sparked protests from the Madrid players, who felt that the challenge had been minimal, but the referee remained firm in his judgment.
The first half ended with few clear chances for either side, and Real Madrid went into the break frustrated by Espanyol’s defensive solidity. Ancelotti’s men emerged for the second half with a renewed sense of urgency, pushing higher up the pitch and increasing the tempo of their attacks. Espanyol, however, had a hero in goal Joan García. The 23-year-old Spanish goalkeeper produced a spectacular performance, denying Madrid time and time again with a series of incredible saves.
Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, and Mbappé all had opportunities to break the deadlock, but García stood firm, reacting brilliantly to every shot that came his way. As the game wore on, frustration grew for the visitors, who saw their efforts continuously thwarted by Espanyol’s defensive resilience. It began to feel like one of those nights when the ball simply wouldn’t go in.
Just when it seemed that Espanyol would settle for a hard-earned point, the home crowd was sent into euphoria with a dramatic late goal. With five minutes left on the clock, Espanyol launched a rapid counterattack, catching Madrid’s defense out of position. Right-back Omar El Hilali delivered a perfect cross into the box, where Carlos Romero met it with a stunning first-time volley that left Andriy Lunin helpless. The stadium erupted as Espanyol took a shocking 1-0 lead, leaving Madrid with little time to respond.
Adding to the controversy, Romero had earlier been involved in a contentious moment in the first half when he escaped a red card for a dangerous tackle on Mbappé. The Madrid players were incensed, feeling that justice had not been served, but their protests fell on deaf ears.
Despite throwing everything forward in the final moments, Real Madrid could not find an equalizer. Espanyol’s defense stood firm, blocking shots and clearing dangerous balls to hold onto a famous victory. The final whistle confirmed a frustrating night for Ancelotti’s men, who now see their closest rivals, Atlético Madrid, close the gap to just one point in the La Liga standings.
This defeat adds extra pressure ahead of the highly anticipated Madrid derby on February 8, a match that could have major implications for the title race. Before that, Real Madrid will have to regroup quickly as they prepare for a midweek Copa del Rey clash against Getafe, where they will look to bounce back from this disappointing result.
