Overview
- Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 on Sunday as Vinícius Júnior scored twice after halftime to prevent Barcelona from sealing the LaLiga title that night.
- The result cut Barcelona’s lead to 11 points with four matches left, setting up a Clásico at Camp Nou where the hosts can secure the crown with a point.
- A first-half straight red to Espanyol’s Ómar El Hilali for a foul on Vinícius was downgraded to yellow after a VAR review, and Madrid lost Ferland Mendy early to injury.
- Vinícius opened the scoring after combining with substitute Gonzalo García, then added a second with a sharp finish following a one-two and back-heel from Jude Bellingham.
- Espanyol’s winless run reached 17 league games, leaving them 13th and five points above the relegation zone as pressure grows on their fight to stay up.