Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu. Here is a quick recap from Real Madrid’s La Liga victory.
First half
Isco nearly scored in the opening minutes of the match, but he put the shot directly at Espanyol’s goalkeeper and the opportunity was wasted. Nevertheless, Isco looked committed. He hounded Espanyol’s left side, combining well with Asensio and Nacho. He was ultimately not to be denied, as he found the end of a perfectly weighted pass by Ronaldo and toe poked the ball past the keeper into the back of the net.
Ronaldo cast a frustrated figure during much of the first half. Despite bagging an assist for Isco’s opening goal, you could tell Ronaldo was itching to finally get on the scoresheet in La Liga. Every pass that went just a bit long, every time his teammates shot rather than passed, and every time they weren’t in the right area when he was trying to pass to them, Ronaldo vocalized his frustrations. This is something Madrid fans have come to get used to, but it’s still not great to watch when it’s happening.
Second Half
The opening exchanges of the second half was tense and frustrating. Espanyol had more dangerous opportunities than Madrid to start the second half, calling upon Keylor Navas to make a few crucial saves to keep Madrid up by their single goal.
Just when the nerves were starting to fray and Espanyol looked like they might find an equalizer, Isco decided to single-handedly put the team on his back and grab the cushion goal for Madrid. He picked off an Espanyol player in midfield and sparked a four-man counter-attack. Ronaldo passed to Asensio who did well to pass the ball right back to Isco, who paused, turned, and curled the ball into the far post on the ground. It was classic Isco, and showed off his versatility.
Espanyol continued to put a bit of pressure on in Madrid’s area, but Isco’s goal mostly deflated the side in blue and white.
Cristiano’s annoyance did not subside, though. He continued to look upset, and couldn’t manage to find a goal. He was heavily involved in Madrid’s attack, but just couldn’t get on the score sheet. Ronaldo will have to settle for a team victory today, as Lionel Messi gets further ahead in the race for the pichichi.
Quick takeaway
Nevermind all that. Real Madrid got a well-needed win, even if it wasn’t the most convincing victory. Madrid sleptwalk their way to three points. But they at least finally managed to get over their Bernabéu Blues, and got a W at home, something they had not managed to do yet in the league.
Much can be written about the events in Catalonia today. As an outsider looking in, I don’t feel qualified in commenting on the politics surrounding the match. However, it is worth mentioning the facts of what occurred at the Bernabéu: There was a display of Spainish unity that the fans participated in. Spanish flags were passed out outside of the stadium, and fans were asked to wave them in the 12th minute, which they obliged, while singing “Viva Espana.”
Paper Spanish flags being handed outside the Bernabeu with instructions on the back to lift them in the 12th minute "We are all Spain" pic.twitter.com/PpCKX2H0Su
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) October 1, 2017
Achraf had a decent debut. He wasn’t particularly impressive going forward, and his passing was a bit off. But he was tidy and energetic at the back, which makes him a suitable replacement for Carvajal.
Madrid needed three points. They got three points. For now, enough said.
Next: Marco Asensio signs a contract extension with Real Madrid