Real Madrid faced a surprising defeat on Saturday as they lost 1-0 to Espanyol at the home stadium of the latter. The match, marked by contentious refereeing decisions and missed opportunities, saw Carlos Romero score the decisive goal in the 85th minute, lifting Espanyol to 17th place in the league table with 23 points.
The match unfolded with both teams struggling to convert chances into goals. However, it was Omar El Hilali’s through-ball that set up Romero for a well-placed shot, sealing the victory for Espanyol just moments before the final whistle. This win was crucial for Espanyol as they aim to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
Despite the defeat, Real Madrid remains at the top of LaLiga with 49 points. Atlético Madrid closely trails them, sitting just one point behind at 48 points. The loss adds pressure on Real Madrid ahead of their upcoming derby against Atlético Madrid next weekend at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, expressed dissatisfaction with the officiating during the match. He highlighted a key moment when Romero fouled star player Kylian Mbappé from behind, resulting only in a yellow card rather than a red.
"This foul is inexplicable, the decision they made, the referee, the VAR. The most important thing is to take care of the player and protect him. It was a very bad tackle that risked injury, which fortunately did not happen," – Carlo Ancelotti
In the second half, Real Madrid had several opportunities to equalize. Players Lucas Vázquez, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham all tested Espanyol’s goalkeeper, who stood firm to deny their efforts. Ancelotti made strategic substitutions, bringing on Luka Modric, Brahim Díaz, and Raúl Asencio, but none could find the back of the net.
Espanyol's Romero reflected on the significance of their victory.
"I think this gives us life, we were playing good matches, competing, we had to suffer… Our people give us an edge and at home we have to be strong, it's going to be very difficult to take points away from us here," – Carlos Romero
As the season progresses, Real Madrid will aim to bounce back from this setback and maintain their lead over Atlético Madrid in the title race. Meanwhile, Barcelona lingers in third place with 42 points and faces Alavés on Sunday.
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