Vinícius Júnior sparked Actual Madrid’s 3-1 comeback win over Espanyol within the Spanish league on Saturday, holding chief Barcelona inside attain earlier than the rivals meet subsequent weekend.
Joselu Mato put Espanyol forward on the Santiago Bernabeu within the eighth minute. However Vinícius equalized within the twenty second and Éder Militão headed Madrid in entrance for good minutes earlier than halftime.
Substitute Marco Asensio added a 3rd purpose in stoppage time as Madrid ended a three-game winless run throughout the league and the Copa del Rey.
Carlo Ancelotti’s workforce diminished Barcelona’s result in six factors earlier than the front-runner visits Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.
Karim Benzema missed the sport as he rested to get better from an ankle drawback. Earlier than the sport, Ancelotti mentioned he anticipated his striker to be able to face Liverpool within the Champions League on Wednesday. Madrid holds a 5-2 benefit from the primary leg of the spherical of 16.
Madrid will then go to Barcelona on March 19 in a clásico that can seemingly weigh closely on the title struggle.
“It was a recreation we needed to win at any price,” Ancelotti mentioned. “This week is essential with the Champions League and the clásico, and now we are able to face it with good momentum.”
Ancelotti insisted his gamers rapidly flip their deal with Liverpool. Although his workforce has a three-goal cushion, the coach mentioned the rematch of final season’s European closing could possibly be a recreation “filled with traps.”
MERCILESS MADRID
Espanyol, which was left in thirteenth place, took the lead when Joselu scored with a superb contact of his left boot. Joselu turned the league’s second-leading scorer, together with Getafe’s Enes Unal, with 12. Solely Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski has extra at 15.
However when Madrid’s Vinícius received going, Madrid by no means gave Espanyol a lot of an opportunity to drag off the upset.
The Brazil ahead seemed hemmed in by Espanyol when he obtained the ball on the left aspect of the realm. However a fast change of course towards the middle opened up simply sufficient of a window for him to string a shot between 4 defenders earlier than it went in off the put up.
“We have been calm sufficient to come back again from a purpose down,” Vinícius mentioned after his team-best nineteenth purpose throughout all competitions.
When Madrid had Espanyol scrambling once more, Militão jumped over his marker on the close to put up to move in a brief cross by Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Diego Martínez despatched on further attackers for Espanyol within the second half, however Madrid went closest to a different purpose when Rodrygo struck a free kick off the crossbar within the seventy fifth.
Asensio rounded off the win after defender Nacho Fernández dribbled ahead and set him up.
“We have been within the match till the ultimate minutes,” Joselu mentioned. “We gave all of it we had, however Actual Madrid reveals no mercy.”
DOWN TO EIGHT
Final-placed Elche grabbed some extent in stoppage time when Tete Morrente scored to attract 1-1 towards a Valladolid that completed with eight gamers.
Cyle Larin struck within the fourth minute for his fourth purpose in seven appearances for Valladolid for the reason that Canada ahead arrived in January.
However Valladolid misplaced its maintain on the sport when Darwin Machís was injured and needed to depart after coach José “Pacheta” Rojo made all his substitutions.
After Morrente scored, two Valladolid gamers — Roque Mesa and Martin Hongla – have been despatched off for second bookings.
OTHER RESULTS
Iago Aspas scored his tenth and eleventh league targets to guide Celta Vigo to 3-0 over Rayo Vallecano. His second purpose was fantastically executed by a contact of the surface of his left foot to drift the ball over the goalkeeper from a decent angle.
Justin Kluivert’s purpose within the 74th minute gave Valencia a 1-0 win over Osasuna and helped to carry it out of the relegation zone. Osasuna Sergio Herrera goalie saved a penalty by Hugo Duro in damage time.