With a nine match winless run prior to kick off, Espanyol perhaps couldn’t have handpicked a worse opponent than Real Madrid.
So it proved inside the opening quarter of an hour, as Vinicius Junior’s run from deep was timed to perfection, latching onto Aurelien Tchouaméni’s delicate pass to roll the ball past the on-rushing Benjamin Lecomte.
Vinicius was at the heart of all things good for Real, and when Espanyol unbelievably left him unmarked at the back post, it seemed for all the world like the Brazilian would double Real’s advantage, but he curled an effort over the crossbar.
Los Periquitos had barely laid a glove on Los Blancos throughout the half, but in the latter stages, the hosts had spurned a couple of good chances to draw level, yet Joselu wasn’t to be denied, latching upon a loose ball in the area to ensure the scores remained level at the break.
The opening stages of the second half were a real slog, with Real unsurprisingly going in search of a 106th league win against Espanyol, while the equaliser had reinstilled belief in the hosts. Joselu came tantalisingly close to firing Espanyol ahead on the hour mark, but Thibaut Courtois beat away his effort from point-blank range.
Having scored in the two fixtures last season, Benzema was tipped by many to be on the scoresheet again, but it took until almost the 70th minute for the frustrated Frenchman to test Lecomte.
For all their huff and puff, Real struggled to break down Espanyol’s resistance, however as last season’s late goal specialists, the chance of a smash-and-grab result remained.
So it proved too, as the returning Rodrygo teased a ball into the area which Benzema latched onto, subsequently touching home what proved to be the winner to break Espanyol hearts.
The dismissal of Lecomte, with the help of VAR, in stoppage time compounded a dismal Espanyol evening, before Benzema slammed home from the resulting free-kick with Leandro Cabrera standing in between the sticks for Espanyol, whose winless league run now stands at 10 matches.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Aurelien Tchouameni (Real Madrid)
Check out all the stats from a tough win for Real Madrid with Flashscore.
