Madrid 2-0 Espanyol: Benzema scores as Blancos keep on Barca's heels in La Liga

Goals from Raphael Varane and Karim Benzema helped Real Madrid coast past Espanyol 2-0 on Saturday afternoon at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

Match Report

Real Madrid extended their unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions with a straightforward 2-0 win over struggling Espanyol on Saturday.

Raphael Varane opened his season account and sent Los Blancos on their way to a fourth consecutive LaLiga victory with a left-footed finish in the 37th minute.

Karim Benzema made the points safe when he swept home Federico Valverde's pass 11 minutes from full-time, making Ferland Mendy's late sending off for a needless second booking the only blight on an otherwise unfussy showing.

Standings

Match Events

6' Double chances from Vinicius and Valverde

SAVE! Vinicius dances down the left and chops cleverly inside David Lopez before firing at goal, but Diego Lopez is there to palm the shot away! Valverde then latches onto the loose ball from just inside the box but lashes wide!

13' Benzema's shot too straight

SAVE! Vinicius is dispossessed but wins the ball back and drives at the exposed Espanyol defence. He slips it left to Benzema as he gets inside the box, and the Frenchman opens his body up to curl at goal first-time, but Diego Lopez positions himself superbly to hold on!

27' Vinicius' shot stopped by Lopez

SAVE! Vinicius then leads the counter down the left for Madrid and escapes his marker inside the box, but Diego Lopez blocks his low effort away with his feet!

36' Valverde's shot stopped by Lopez

SAVE! Great save from Diego Lopez! Mendy slips the ball infield for Valverde on the edge of the box and he takes a touch to set himself before smashing a wicked, deflected effort at goal that the goalkeeper has to adjust quickly to in order to palm it over!

37' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol (Varane)

GOAL! Real Madrid take the lead! Varane, of all people, is played through on the left side of the box after a corner is cleared and the centre-half guides a confident effort into the bottom-right corner on his weaker left foot! It's 1-0 to Madrid!

43' Vinicius' shot stopped by Lopez again

SAVE! Vinicius shows incredible speed as he bursts down the left and eases away from Vila inside the box before smashing an effort towards the near post that Diego Lopez deflects behind for a corner! 

53' Missed! Benzema misses a one-on-one chance

SAVE! It should be 2-0! Real Madrid break and Valverde plays Benzema clean through on goal as Espanyol's high line gets caught out. The striker's angle is a little wide, however, and Diego Lopez positions himself well to block the shot away!

70' CHANCE! Benzema's shot inches wide

BENZEMA! A big chance for Benzema goes begging as Vinicius cuts the ball back to him in the centre of the box, but the striker lashes inches wide on the swivel! 

79' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol (Benzema)

GOAL!! Real Madrid double their lead! Valverde is played through on the right and works a yard cleverly before crossing into Benzema, who fires home from the edge of the six-yard box! It's 2-0 to Madrid!

83' Second Yellow Card! Ferland Mendy sent off

RED CARD! Mendy leaves his studs on Gomez's ankle clumsily and is shown a second yellow card! He's off and Madrid are down to 10 men!

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