Real Madrid extended their lead at the summit of La Liga andcontinued their undefeated home record this season with a dominantvictory 2-0overmid-tableEspanyol.
The victory never seemed in any doubt as goals from Alvaro Morataand the returning Gareth Balesecured the victory for Los Blancos who are now four points clear at the summit of La Liga with a game in hand.
The victory today was the first game in a crucial run of 5 leagues gamesover the next 15 days. The build up of league fixtures is the result of postponements due to Real's exploits in the Club World Cup Championship after winning the Champions League last season.
Both sides came into the game indecent form; Espanyol had won three of their previous four in the league, while Madrid had won five win from six in the league. However, both sides were also poor in their previous match. Real Madrid played poor in a 3-1 victory over bottom club Osasuna and Espanyol lost at home to Real Sociedad.
1996 - Real Madrid have not lost vs Espanyol in their last 20 games at Santiago Bernabéu in La Liga (W17 D3) since 1996 (1-2). Friend pic.twitter.com/GvD7RWyMhx
Due to the fixture congestion, Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane made a total of seven changes to the team that beat Napoli 3-1 in the Champions League. Out went Keylor Navas, Sergio Ramos, Fábio Coentrão, Danilo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema. In came Kiko Casilla, Pepe, Nacho, Mateo Kovacic, Lucas Vazquez, Alvaro Morata and Isco.
The raft of changes seemed to slightly affect the rhythm of the team as Real attempted toenforce their dominance as the league leaders with the majority of possession but lack of penetrationin the opening minutes of the game.
However, Espanyol did well to frustrate Real and keep them at arms length while counter attacking on a couple of occasions with, in truth, little threat.
Midway through the first half, Real Madrid began to click and started to turn the screw on Espanyol. A couple of late Espanyol challengesbegan to show how they were simply chasing Madrid shadows and the ascendancy had shifted to Real.Cristiano Ronaldo wowed the crowd with an amazing nutmegs on David Lopez in the box but he couldn't make anything from it.
Alvaro Morata now has the third-best minutes-per-goal ratio in #LaLigaSantander. ï’¥
Suarez - 88'
Messi - 90'
MORATA - 98'
Cristiano - 101' pic.twitter.com/IlzbnfD5nm
After a couple of near misses and a sitter missed from Morata, Los Blancos opened the scoring on 33 minutes to capitalise on a superb few minutes. Spanish wideman Isco managed to find space on the right hand sideto cross invitingly for his compatriot Alvaro Morata who managed to rise and head home on his return to the side.
Whilst Espanyol maintained their organisation and shape, Real really began to assert their dominance and nearly finished off the tie before half time. Isco, again at the heart of the attack, managed to find Nacho close to the byline. Nacho played the ball into Morata but he could only skew the ball off target rather than double the lead anddouble his goal tally for the afternoon.
That would be that for the first half, Real started slowly but grew into the half to firmly control the game, whilst Espanyol defended well but offered little to nothing going forward.
1�⃣ attempt on target, 1�⃣ goal... Real Madrid showing efficiency in front of goal. #RealMadridEspanyol live  https://t.co/yho3WY5lv0 pic.twitter.com/Zo1aNvCAxU
As the game got underway for the second half,one change at half time saw Espanyol changeJose Antonio Reyes for Hernan Perez.
The pattern of play continued for the second half, Real Madrid comfortably controlled the game and always seemed to have the extra man available or an extra yard of pace. This was clear on 50 minutes, Madrid broke clear through Morata and Ronaldo but the final pass was well blocked for the umpteenth time.
On 60 minutes, Zidane took the defensive approach to sure up the midfield bysubstituting thecarded Kovacic for the disciplined midfield enforcerCasemiro.
Frustration of the expectant home crowd began to build as numerous attacks came and went without troubling the former Real Madrid goalkeeperDiego Lopez in the Espanyol goal.
Cristiano Ronaldo should have done better when headering a great opportunity over the bar on 69 minutes before Gareth Bale replaced goal scoring Morata with 20 minutes to go.
Welcome back, Gareth! ï‘�ï”'#RealMadridEspanyol pic.twitter.com/GeGg7TFugp
The clock drifted towards 90 minutes with little happening other than a couple of substitutions for both teams and more wayward finishing from Real Madrid.
Then on 83 minutes Espanyol had a chance to equalise with a dangerous free kick but it didn't exactly go to plan. Rather than making something of the opportunity, Real defended comfortably and countered quickly up the field to double their lead.
With Espanyol players committed in the Madrid half, Isco played a perfectly weighted through ball into the stride of the on rushing Bale who unleashed a low left footed drive into the far corner in typical Gareth Bale fashion.
In the latter stages of the game, Madrid finished strongly with a couple of penalty appeals turned down to the bewilderment of Cristiano Ronaldo and some ambitious efforts from distance, however, nothing came from them.
The game finished there at 2-0 with the victory never really in doubt and enabled Real to extend their lead at the top of the league. Whilst Espanyol defended well, they offered very little going forward to really trouble the league leaders.
FT #RealMadridEspanyol 2-0
Gareth Bale scores on his return for Real Madrid as Zidane's side win their 8th straight game at the Bernabeu. pic.twitter.com/nRPfXwVVqA
Zidane names a changed starting XI to face Espanyol this afternoon at the Santiago Bernabeu! �#RealMadridEspanyol pic.twitter.com/mCgkLoltht