Real Madrid have halted their recent slump in form with a clinical 2-0 victory over Espanyol in Matchday 34 of La Liga. By taking maximum points in Catalonia, Los Blancos refused to hand Barcelona the title on a silver platter, ensuring the champagne remains on ice for at least another week.

Álvaro Arbeloa’s side entered the clash under immense scrutiny, having secured just one win in their last four outings. Compounding their woes was the absence of talismanic striker Kylian Mbappé, sidelined with a thigh injury.

The match began at a frantic pace as both sides traded blows in the opening exchanges. While Espanyol’s Rubén saw his effort fly narrowly wide, Real were denied an early opener when a stunning strike from Vinícius Júnior rattled the woodwork. The hosts then survived a major scare midway through the first half; defender Omar El Hilali was initially shown a straight red for a crunching challenge on Vinícius, but a VAR intervention saw the decision downgraded to a yellow card.

The second half, however, belonged entirely to Vinícius. In the 55th minute, the Brazilian sparked into life on the left flank, playing a neat one-two with Gonzalo García before dancing past two defenders and arrowing a clinical finish in off the post to break the deadlock.

Espanyol, still searching for their first win of 2026, desperately sought a way back into the contest, with Ramon Terrats seeing a goal-bound effort shave the upright. But any hopes of a comeback were extinguished in the 66th minute by a moment of pure genius. Jude Bellingham produced a sensational back-heel on the edge of the area to find Vinícius, who swept the ball home in one motion to double his tally and secure the points.

The result keeps Real Madrid mathematically in the hunt, though the mountain remains steep. The drama is set to reach its peak next weekend, as Los Merengues return to the Catalan capital for a high-stakes El Clásico showdown at the Camp Nou.

2025-26, Spain - La Liga

Espanyol - Real 0:2 (0:0)
Goals: Vinícius Júnior, 55 (0:1); Vinícius Júnior, 66 (0:2)

Espanyol: Dmitrović; Sanchez Ru. (Roca, 61); El Hilali; Gonzalez U.; Calero F.; Cabrera L.; Ramón (Carreras, 73); Edu Expósito (Pickel, 61); Dolan (Milla P., 73); Romero; Fernández Rob. (Kike García, 73)
Substitution: Pickel (from 61); Roca (from 61); Carreras (from 73); Kike García (from 73); Milla P. (from 73)
Bench: Fortuno; Rubio; Salinas; Riedel C.
Yellow Cards: El Hilali 26; Edu Expósito 45; Gonzalez U. 85

Real: Lunin Andriy; Alexander-Arnold; Mendy Fe. (García Fr., 14); Rudiger; Huijsen; Tchouaméni (Camavinga, 83); Pitarch (Mastantuono, 53); Diaz Br. (García G., 53); Bellingham; Valverde F.; Vinícius Júnior (Palacios, 83)
Substitution: García Fr. (from 14); García G. (from 53); Mastantuono (from 53); Camavinga (from 83); Palacios (from 83)
Bench: Gonzalez Fran; Mestre; Jimenez D.; Asencio R.; Alaba; Carreras
Yellow Cards: Diaz Br. 22; Vinícius Júnior 23; Alexander-Arnold 50; García G. 75