Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 on May 3, 2026, at RCDE Stadium. Vinicius Jr’s performance was pivotal for the victory, as he scored both goals and kept Real Madrid’s slim title hopes alive.
Vinicius Jr opened the scoring in the 55th minute. He cut onto his right foot, sent two defenders sliding, and tucked the ball inside the near post for a 1-0 lead. Just eleven minutes later, he added a second goal after a fine one-two with Jude Bellingham.
Key facts from the match:
- Real Madrid’s starting lineup included Lunin, Trent, Rüdiger, Huijsen, F. Mendy, Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham, Thiago, Brahim, and Vini Jr.
- Real Madrid is currently in second place in La Liga, 11 points behind Barcelona.
- Barcelona leads the La Liga standings with 88 points.
- The match was part of Matchday 34 of La Liga.
This victory delayed Barcelona’s title celebrations for at least another week. However, Real Madrid is missing key players like Kylian Mbappe and Thibaut Courtois. They face a critical challenge ahead as they could lose the title in the upcoming El Clasico against Barcelona next Sunday.
The stakes are high for Real Madrid as they continue to fight for the La Liga title. With only four matches remaining in the season, every point counts in this tight race against Barcelona.