Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol - As it happened
Re-live Real's 2-0 win over Espanyol at Bernabeu that enabled Zinedine Zidane's team to go four points clear at the top of the LaLiga standings.
FULL-TIME: Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol
It was a quiet comfortable win for Real despite the fact the goal that sealed it only came on 83 minutes, as Espanyol never showed any ambition to chase the equaliser. Isco and Morata put in great displays while Bale scored on his return from injury.
FT: #RealMadrid 2-0 @RCDEspanyol (@AlvaroMorata 33', @GarethBale11 83').#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/LIn0RJhXfQ
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017
Penalty decision changes to off-side
The referee signals the penalty spot after Ronaldo is held in the area but changes his decision after his assistant signals off-side. Ronaldo was definitely onside so the referee should have gone with his first decision
Real penalty appeal turned down
Ronaldo goes down in the area after a challenge by Duarte, he protests to the referee but the latter waves to play on
GOAL: Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol (Bale, 83 mins)
What a return by Bale as he scores one of his trademark goals, culminating a counter-attack by sloting in a superb through ball by Isco
83' GOOOOOOOOOAL by @GarethBale11!!! What a return!#RealMadrid 2-0 @RCDEspanyol #RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/pi5Pmd9PSf
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017
Casemiro gets booked
For a late challenge on Perez
Substitution for Espanyol
Jurado is replaced by Alvaro Vazquez
Substitution for Real
Marcelo replaces Nacho
Martin gets booked
The Espanyol left back sees a yellow for holding Vazquez
Real miss another chance
Kross whips it in, Lucas Vazquez unleashes a first-time volley at the far post but it hits the side of the net
Change for Real, Bale returns
The Welshman replaces Morata to make his first appearance in three months
71' Second change as @GarethBale11 is introduced and @AlvaroMorata is replaced.#RealMadrid 1-0 @RCDEspanyol#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/dyakHxWaMp
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017
Big chance for Real
Morata crosses from the left and Ronaldo's header at the far post is just over the bar
Diop gets booked
For a harsh tackle on Casemiro
Real miss a chance
Lucas crosses and the Espanyol defence clears but it falls on Casemiro, who lashes over the bar
First substitution for Real
Casemiro replaces Kovacic, who played almost 50 minutes with stitches under his eye
Real earn their 10th corner of the game
Kroos delivers it, the Espanyol defence clears without drama
Into the wall
Ronaldo takes the free-kick himself but it inexplicably poor and he sends in straight into the wall
Free-kick to Real
In a dangerous position and Fuego gets booked for the foul on Ronaldo.
Isco gets booked
For pulling Perez from behind
Bale warming up
The Welsh looks set to return to action soon, for the first time since his injury three months previously
Second half begins
Real get us under way. Espanyol made a change at the interval as Hernan Perez has come on for Reyes
HALF-TIME: Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol
Real enjoyed 69% of possesion in the first half as they pushed Espanyol back in their own area and converted their one shot on goal, while they also had four more than were just off. Isco had a very good first 45 minutes while Morata was a constant threat and of course scored the only goal so far.
HT: #RealMadrid 1-0 @RCDEspanyol (@AlvaroMorata 33').#RMLiga #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/gboxF7J5WJ
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017
Madrid penalty appeal rejected
Morata goes down in the area following a challenge from behind by David Lopez, the referee waves to play on. Morata protests but it did not look like a penalty. Real should have been given a corner though cause the Espanyol defender was the last to touch the ball
Kovacic gets booked
The Real Madrid midfielder sees a yellow for tripping Piatti.
Another big chance for Real
Isco turns a defender inside out down the left this time, curls it at the near post to Morata whose left-foot strike is just wide
GOAL: Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol (Morata, 33 mins)
Isco sends in a great cross from the right flank and it is met with a text-book header by Morata to give Real the lead
@AlvaroMorata celebrates giving us the lead with the man who provided his assist, @isco_alarcon.#RealMadrid 1-0 @RCDEspanyol #RMLiga pic.twitter.com/ioQQd660Ho
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017
Real goal ruled out
Ronaldo scores but he has been correctly been signalled off-side before receiving the ball
Huge chance for Real
Ronaldo makes a great run from the right, rolls it over to Morata who is unmarked at the far post but a sliding tackle from Duarte prevents him from shooting at the very last instance
Free-kick to Madrid
Kross curls it in, Morata takes the header and it flies just a centimetre over the bar, but the assistant has raised the flag for off-side
Kovacic takes knock in the face
The Real Madrid midfielder needs stitches underneath the eye following a clash in the air with Diop
Chance for Real
Morata turns a defender inside out in the area, but his shot is blocked by Reyes
Real miss their first chance
Madrid earn their first corner kick, Kroos whips it in towards Pepe at the far post, but his header misses the target
First corner kick for Espanyol
David Lopez rises higher than the Madrid defence but his header is over the bar
Kick-off!
Espanyol get us under way at the Bernabeu
Three minutes to kick-off
The teams are coming out of the tunnel.
#RMLiga
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadriden) 18 de febrero de 2017
Kick-off fast approaching!#HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/tOmdFBwtCj
Gareth Bale is back in the Real Madrid squad for the first time since his injury three months ago, but he starts on the bench. Here are the starting line-ups for both teams:
Real Madrid XI: Casilla, Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Nacho, Kroos, Kovacic, Isco, Lucas Vázquez, Ronaldo, Morata.
Subs: Rubén Yáñez, Marcelo, James, Asensio, Casemiro, Bale, Mariano.
Espanyol XI: Diego López, Diego Reyes, David López, Óscar Duarte, Aarón, Javi Fuego, Diop, Reyes, Piatti, Jurado, Gerard.
Subs: Roberto, Rubén Duarte, Víctor Álvarez, Caicedo, Hernán Pérez, Marc Roca, Álvaro.
Follow live updates as Real Madrid host Espanyol for Round 23 in the Spanish LaLiga.