Real Madrid Vs Espanyol Highlights, La Liga: RMA 2-0 ESP; Los Blancos Notch Up Fifth Straight Win

Greetings and welcome to everyone. We have a lot of exciting Saturday evening football action coming up, and among that is the Spanish league clash between Real Madrid and Espanyol. Stay with us for the build-up and live updates from the encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The match will kick off at 7:45pm IST. The Real Madrid vs Espanyol, Spanish La Liga 2025-26 clash will be live streamed on the FanCode app and website in India. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in the country.

Just like the first five games, star striker Kylian Mbappe is starting tonight as well for Real Madrid. Coach Xabi Alonso had earlier said that Mbappe would be rotated, like others, in the season. Well, not tonight. Here is Los Blancos' line-up:

And here is Espanyol's line-up for tonight's face-off with Real Madrid:

Real Madrid have won 117 of their 199 encounters against Espanyol overall, with 36 games ending in draws. But the visitors won in the two teams' last meeting. Manolo Gonzalez's side got the better of the Madrid giants by a 1-0 margin in February 2025.

The live broadcast of the match is showing fans who have turned up in huge numbers, with a majority supporting the home side, though there enough Espanyol supporters to be seen too. The teams are warming up and we will have kick-off very soon.

Play gets underway at the Santiago Bernabeu. Real Madrid kicking from right to left and Espanyol from left to right in the first half. Remember that if the visitors win tonight, they would leapfrog Madrid to take the top spot in the standings.

The first 13 minutes have been cagey. Vinicius Junior creates a chance in the 13th, responding to Alvaro Carreras' assist and cracking a shot at the Espanyol goal. But his shot is thwarted and we stay at 0-0.

Madrid go ahead in the 22nd minute! And it's courtesy a stunning long-range strike from Eder Militao, who pounces on the ball from nearly 35 yards out and pile-drives it from his right foot, into the top left corner. Visiting goalie Marko Dmitrovic tries his best, but cannot cover the angle in time and is beaten comprehensively.

Militao now tries to turn provider, lining up compatriot Vinicius Junior in the 35th minute. But the forward's shot flies high and wide to the right.

Kylian Mbappe has a glorious chance to net Real Madrid's second at the stroke of half-time, but fails to make the most of Vinicius Junior's probing ball at the goal mouth. The players go into the interval with the scoreline reading 1-0 in favour of Los Blancos.

The lemon break ends and play resumes. Real Madrid attacking from left to right and Espanyol from right to left in the second half. The visitors start brightly, progressing well in the final third within a minute of resumption. No harm done to Los Blancos though.

Mbappe scores in the 47th minute! The red-hot French forward nets another screamer for Real Madrid, and like Militiao's strike earlier, it is a long-ranger. Vinicius Junior did a lot of the hard work, surging ahead from the left flank and then cutting it back to Mbappe, who drills it in from distance into the bottom left corner. Dmitrovic can do nothing about it and Madrid have their second.

A couple of near misses for Real Madrid in quick succession, as they resume their dominant ways. Vinicius Junior hits the left upright in the 66th minute from close range, and the very next minute, Militao's header to Franco Mastantuono's corner kick goes wide. 

A couple of late substitutions for Real Madrid. Eduardo Camavinga replaces Aurelien Tchouameni in the 89th and Jude Bellingham comes in for Kylian Mbappe in the 90th minute. Five minutes of stoppage time added.

The final whistle blows and Real Madrid win 2-0 to stay perfect with their fifth straight win, and remain on top of the Spanish league table. Eder Militao and Kylian Mbappe's goals in the 22nd and 47th minutes, respectively prove enough for Los Blancos.

Real Madrid travel to Levante for their next league game on Wednesday (September 24, 1am IST). Meanwhile, Espanyol will host Valencia at the RCDE Stadium on Tuesday.