Espanyol Secure Stunning Upset Over LaLiga Leaders Real Madrid

Espanyol pulled off a stunning 1-0 upset over LaLiga leaders Real Madrid, with Carlos Romero scoring the winner in the 85th minute to blow the title race wide open.

In a stunning upset, lowly Espanyol defeated LaLiga leaders Real Madrid 1-0 at home, sending shockwaves through the Spanish football landscape. This remarkable victory not only boosted Espanyol's chances of survival but also blew the title race wide open, as Real Madrid's five-match winning streak in all competitions came to an abrupt end.

Real Madrid, fresh from a 3-0 win in the UEFA Champions League, had been in scintillating form, averaging 3.25 goals per game in their previous four victories. However, they struggled to find their rhythm in the early stages of the match at RCDE Stadium. The visitors suffered a significant blow when Antonio Rudiger was forced off with an injury in the opening quarter of the match.

Despite enjoying a significant share of possession, Real Madrid's attacking prowess was blunted by Espanyol's resolute defense. The only notable effort on goal in the first half came from Jofre Carreras, whose well-struck drive was expertly saved by Thibaut Courtois. Real Madrid thought they had taken the lead midway through the half, but Vinicius Junior's strike was disallowed due to a push by Kylian Mbappe on Pol Lozano.

It wasn't until the 39th minute that Real Madrid finally registered a shot on target, but Jude Bellingham's 20-yard curling effort was comfortably saved by Joan Garcia in the Espanyol goal. Despite dominating possession, Real Madrid's lack of cutting edge in front of goal ultimately proved costly, as Espanyol secured a memorable victory that lifted them out of the relegation zone.

Reigning champions Real Madrid emerged from the halftime break with renewed determination, seeking to make Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia's evening increasingly uncomfortable. Within eight minutes of the restart, Kylian Mbappe narrowly missed converting a rebound from a powerful Jude Bellingham strike, signaling the visitors' intent to take control of the match.

As the second half progressed, Real Madrid continued to press for the opening goal, with Dani Ceballos forcing Garcia into another save and Vinicius Junior sending a close-range effort soaring over the crossbar. Rodrygo, in impressive form of late, then collected a pass from Mbappe and embarked on a dazzling run through Espanyol's defense, only to see his shot ricochet off both Garcia and the post, denying him a certain goal.

Undeterred, Real Madrid persisted in their pursuit of the breakthrough, with Mbappe attempting a similar move from the left flank, only to be thwarted by Garcia's impressive save at full stretch. As the match entered its final stages, Espanyol began to exploit the spaces left by Real Madrid's attacking forays, launching counterattacks that, although initially unsuccessful, eventually yielded the decisive goal.

FT: #EspanyolRealMadrid 1-0@RCDEspanyol_EN get a MASSIVE win against Real Madrid to move out of the relegation zone. 💙#LALIGAEASPORTS pic.twitter.com/RoIC3igtjf

— LALIGA English (@LaLigaEN) February 1, 2025

In the 85th minute, Espanyol cleared a Real Madrid free-kick and swiftly transitioned into a counterattack, funneling players forward and working the ball to Omar El Hilali on the right side. El Hilali delivered a precise cross to the far post, where Carlos Romero volleyed home the winner, sending the home crowd into raptures. Espanyol survived a tense seven-minute added-time period to secure a stunning 1-0 victory, their third home win in six meetings with Real Madrid, and narrow the gap at the top of the table to just one point.