Real Madrid returned to winning ways on Sunday with a hard-fought and precious away victory against a struggling Espanyol side at the RCDE Stadium in Catalonia.
Vinicius Junior Ignites in Mbappe’s Absence
With Kylian Mbappe sidelined due to injury, the spotlight fell on Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian superstar delivered a performance that arguably saved Real Madrid from the humiliation of giving Barcelona a “Guard of Honor” (Pasillo) in next week’s El Clasico.
After being denied by the woodwork in the first half, Vinicius finally broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second period. The opening goal was a moment of individual brilliance; “Vini” collected the ball from Fede Valverde, danced past defenders, and played a slick one-two with substitute Gonzalo Garcia. He then outmaneuvered two Espanyol defenders before firing a clinical strike off the inside of the post past goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.
Just 11 minutes later (66′), Vinicius doubled the lead. This time, he linked up with Jude Bellingham on the edge of the box before unleashing an unstoppable rocket into the top corner, effectively sealing the three points for the Merengues.
⚽️ ليلة فينيسيوس!
فينيسيوس جونيور يسجل الهدف الأول في الدقيقة 55 ثم يضيف الثاني في الدقيقة 66 في شباك إسبانيول 👌#الدوري_الإسباني #ريال_مدريد pic.twitter.com/KqudSGZ6ya
— beIN SPORTS (@beINSPORTS) May 3, 2026
La Liga Title Race: The Battle Continues
This victory keeps Real Madrid slim title hopes alive. The “Kings of Europe” knew that anything less than a win would have officially handed the La Liga crown to their arch-rivals.
As it stands, an 11-point gap remains between leaders Barcelona and second-placed Real Madrid. However, the Catalan giants still hold the advantage; a win or even a draw in the upcoming El Clasico would be enough for Barca to clinch the title mathematically.
In the background, tensions remain high within the squad following reports of Kylian Mbappe’s controversial trip to Italy during his recovery period.
Real Madrid Locker Room Backlash: Mbappé Labeled “Unprofessional” Amid Italy Trip
El Clasico 2026: Match Details
The upcoming clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona is now the most anticipated fixture of the season.
Fixture: Barcelona vs Real Madrid (La Liga Matchday 35)
- Date: Sunday, May 10, 2026
- Venue: Spotify Camp Nou
- Kick-off Time: 22:00 (10:00 PM) KSA / 21:00 (9:00 PM) CET
