Three takeaways from Real Madrid’s 4-2 win over Espanyol
By Ben Sundock
![CORNELLA, SPAIN - JANUARY 27: (L-R) Raphael Varane of Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid, Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Sergio Reguilon of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Espanyol v Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium on January 27, 2019 in Cornella Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images) CORNELLA, SPAIN - JANUARY 27: (L-R) Raphael Varane of Real Madrid, Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid, Karim Benzema of Real Madrid, Sergio Reguilon of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Espanyol v Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium on January 27, 2019 in Cornella Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/7f9e87019aacbc34e382d8de100e180072e1138577db52434c37bbed297f8933.jpg)
Real Madrid carried the momentum from Thursday’s 4-2 win over Girona into Sunday’s La Liga match against Espanyol which, coincidentally, ended with the same scoreline. Here are three takeaways from the goal-filled match in Catalonia.
In front of a meager audience at the RCDE Stadium, Real Madrid managed to bag four goals for the second straight match and have now scored 10 goals in the last three matches which have all been wins.
Thanks to a brace from striker Karim Benzema and the return of winger Gareth Bale, Santiago Solari’s side showed that they are not out of the title race in Spain. Sitting three points clear of fourth place Sevilla, Los Blancos will need to maintain focus in this crucial stretch of matches.
Let’s get to the three takeaways from the match.
A record-breaking night
Real Madrid, as we all well know, is a club drenched in history and accolades. So, when a record is broken, it’s big news. With Sunday’s win, Real became the first team to reach 4,500 total points in La Liga play!
FC Barcelona is lagging well behind its rival despite great success in recent seasons with 4,404 total points.
Los Blancos also hold the record for most goals by a club (6,075), the most wins (1,681), and the most titles (33). I think it is very safe to say that Real Madrid owns Spain!
The other record-breaking event on the night came from the captain, Sergio Ramos, as he tied his career high in goals in a single season with his tenth. The goal came in the 15th minute by way of a Luka Modric cross which Ramos delightfully redirected with his head past the Espanyol goalkeeper.
50 - Sergio Ramos has scored his 50th headed goal for @realmadriden in all competitions (83 in total). Titan. pic.twitter.com/qK2vgdYplF
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 27, 2019
It was a typical Ramos goal as he rose above several defenders and picked out the corner with pinpoint accuracy. The center back now has three goals in his last two matches, so, is it really right to call him a center back still?