The Royal Club defeated Espanyol 2-0 away, with Vinicius Junior scoring both goals in the second half. Real thus delayed Barcelona's celebration, ended a three-game winless run away from home and kept a clean sheet in La Liga for the first time since February 8.
Espanyol entered the match in an unusual position, as any positive result from them could bring the title to Barcelona. At the same time, the home team had their own concerns, as they are winless in their previous 16 matches, with six draws and ten losses, but the start of the match did not look like the performance of a team that has been waiting for a triumph for so long.
Roberto Fernandes had a chance to give Espanyol the lead in the third minute, but he mishandled the ball and shot wide from about 15 meters. The home team opened the game bravely, while Real had their first real threat in the eighth minute, when Vinicius' deflected shot bounced off the post.
That moment seemed to shift control to Madrid, who then began to keep the rhythm, but the first half still had another controversial situation. Omar El Hilali received a straight red card in the 25th minute for a late challenge on Vinicius, but referee Jesus Gil Manzano, after watching the pitchside video, changed his decision and showed only a yellow card.
The home fans' reaction to the decision further heightened the atmosphere, and Espanyol soon had a good chance through Tyrese Dolan, who sent the ball over the bar. On the other side, Federico Valverde headed a shot straight at Marko Dmitrović, while Brahim Diaz turned and scored.
Espanyol had the best chance before the break in stoppage time of the first half, when Leandro Cabrera headed in from close range, but Andrij Lunjin saved Real with a great intervention.
Madrid had 45 minutes to stop Barcelona's celebration and the job began to be done ten minutes after the break. Vinicius exchanged passes with Gonzalo Garcia in the penalty area, entered the area and calmly sent the ball past Dmitrović for 1-0.
Espanyol were able to respond almost immediately. Ramon Terats acrobatically tried to equalize, but the ball hit his teammate and flew over the crossbar, and then the same player shot just wide of Lujin's far post.
Real punished those mistakes midway through the second half. Jude Bellingham's heel laid the ball for Vinicius, who ran at full speed to slot home into the top corner to make it 2-0. It was his 21st goal of the season in all competitions, and his eighth direct involvement in a goal in his last seven matches against Espanyol, with five goals and three assists.
The home team tried to come back until the end, Carlos Romero shot straight at Lunjino, but Espanyol failed to score for the fourth time in the last five games.
The victory was clearly significant for Real, as it leaves them with at least a theoretical chance to continue putting pressure on Barcelona. However, to keep that hope alive, they will have to beat Barcelona at the Camp Nou next week.
Espanyol, on the other hand, is still waiting for its first win in 2026. If Sevilla defeat Real Sociedad on Monday, the Catalan team could remain just three points above the relegation zone.
