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Espanyol pulled off a historical upset in Catalonia, defeating La Liga leaders Real Madrid 1-0 through a late strike from Carlos Romero. The victory have brought Espanyol out of the relegation zone, lifting them to 17th place in the La Liga standings.
Real Madrid entered the contest seeking to extend their advantage at the top of the table. A win would have moved them four points clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid and 10 points ahead of third-placed Barcelona. However, Espanyol had other plans.
Despite Real Madrid’s dominance in possession and shots, they struggled to find the back of the net. Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe, in particular, had an off-night in front of goal. The visitors’ woes were compounded by an early injury to Antonio Rudiger, which forced Carlo Ancelotti into an unplanned substitution.
Espanyol, on the other hand, had been quietly gathering momentum in recent weeks. They had picked up five points from their last three league matches and suffered just one defeat in their previous six outings. This newfound undying spirit ultimately paid dividends as Romero’s 85th-minute goal secured a famous victory for the Catalan side.
The defeat means a major setback for Real Madrid, particularly with the Madrid derby looming next weekend. Manchester City, their upcoming opponents in the Champions League playoff round, will also take delight from this result.
Real Madrid’s attacking struggles were evident throughout the match. They managed just three shots in the first half, equalling their lowest tally in the opening 45 minutes of an away game this season. The visitors’ lack of precision in front of goal ultimately proved costly, as Espanyol’s resilient defense held firm until Romero’s late winner.
The outcome has significant implications for the La Liga title race. Real Madrid’s lead at the top has been reduced to a single point, with Atletico Madrid closing the gap after their 2-0 win over Mallorca. As the season enters its final stretch, the battle for supremacy in Spain continues to heat up.
