La Liga: Real Madrid relegated to shock 2-1 defeat against Espanyol

Real Madrid suffered a shock 2-1 defeat against Espanyol on Sunday and missed a chance to pull ahead of Atletico Madrid, who beat Barcelona 2-0 on Saturday to draw level with their city rivals on 17 points. This week has been one of the worst for Los Blancos as they had lost to Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol in the Champions League group stage fixture on Tuesday. Espanyol opened the scoring through Raul de Tomas in the first half before Aleix Vidal extended the lead. Although Karim Benzema pulled one back for the visitors, Espanyol held on to the lead to secure the win.

Espanyol took the lead on 17 minutes at RCDE Stadium in Catalonia. Vidal released Adrian Embarba down the right flank and the 29-year-old’s low cross was turned in by Tomas at the near post.

On the hour mark, Vidal nutmegged Nacho to go through on goal before smashing the ball past Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois and into the goal. Sergi Darder should have tripled the lead from a breakaway move, but the Spanish footballer missed the target from a one-on-one situation with Courtois. 

Benzema had the ball in the back of the net, but the goal was disallowed as Luka Jovic was in an off-side position during the build-up. In the 71st minute, Jovic laid the ball to Benzema on the left side, and the Frenchman cut inside, beat two defenders before firing into the bottom corner. It was the 33-year-old’s ninth league goal in eight games this season.

Eden Hazard thought he had equalized with a stunning strike after combining with Benzema, but the referee raised the flag for off-side. The home side held firm, clinging on the slender lead and taking three points.

We are all excited to win against Madrid: Vincento Moreno

“We must value that the rival in front of us makes everything that happens magnified,” Espanyol boss Vincento Moreno said.

“The victory has a lot of value, we are all excited to win against Madrid but, from there, it is still three points. It is always difficult to count on them, you have to keep adding. When they score 2-1 you know that you will have to suffer in the final part and that anything can happen,” Moreno explained.

“With that result of two goals away you take it with more peace of mind. If we scored the third and we would have been more calm, no it would be us.“

It was Espanyol’s second win of the season in eight games and they are now placed 13th in the table with nine points.

“It’s been a bad week, now it’s the international break and we have to reflect on it and work on what we’re doing wrong. We’re just starting out and we’re up near the top. It’s early in the season and we need to get guys back to give it the best we can,” said Real Madrid defender Nacho.

“We were never comfortable. We conceded in the 18th minute and that made it difficult. Have to keep working to improve defensively, that’s the most important thing at the moment. It’s easier if we don’t concede,” he added.

Real Madrid will next host Atletico Madrid after the international break on October 17.