Real Madrid extended their perfect LaLiga start with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Espanyol thanks to stunners from Eder Militao and Kylian Mbappe.
2025/2026 La Liga
2-0
Match Report
Espanyol arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu brimming with confidence, having recorded three wins from their first four matches – their best start to a LaLiga campaign since 1995-96 – but they were undone by two moments of Madrid magic.
Xabi Alonso’s side broke the deadlock in the 22nd minute when defender Militao hammered into the top corner from nearly 30 yards out.
Espanyol, to their credit, continued to probe and carved out a golden opportunity on the stroke of half-time, only for Fernando Calero to miss a point-blank header from a floated free-kick.
And that miss proved costly two minutes into the second half as in-form Mbappe did his best to match Militao’s brilliance with a 25-yard strike of his own.
Having received a pass from Vinicius Junior, the Frenchman beat Marko Dmitrovic at the near post with a perfectly struck shot.
Mbappe later squandered several chances as the hosts attempted to run riot, first lobbing over the bar off a lovely set-up from Franco Mastantuono before firing two successive shots straight at Dmitrovic.
Alonso's team have now won their opening five league games, and moved five points clear at the summit.
FT: @RealMadridEN 2-0 @RCDEspanyol_EN
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 20, 2025
22’ @EderMilitao
47’ @KMbappe @Emirates pic.twitter.com/9VIhEeUJQx
Data Debrief: Militao and Mbappe’s long-range madness
Madrid had two long-range stunners from Militao and Mbappe to thank for their victory.
Militao’s superb effort came after a remarkable sequence of 26 passes – a record for a goal scored by a defender in LaLiga since at least the 2005-06 season.
Mbappe, meanwhile, now leads Europe’s top five leagues for both total goals scored (37) and goals from outside the box (six) across all competitions in 2025.
Given the nature of their goals, it is no surprise that Madrid ended up outperforming their expected goals (xG) value of 1.35, while Espanyol will rue some missed opportunities, having fashioned 1.02 xG of their own.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
8' Asencio is hit in face
16' Militao makes a great tackle
22' Militao unleashes an extraordinary strike!! Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol
34' Another great defending from Militao
41' Mbappé side-netting
47' A magnificent Mbappe goal puts Madrid in control!! Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol
48' Mbappé misses a golden chance
60' Arda Güler is replacing Gonzalo Garcia
66' Mbappé's shot is saved, Viní’s rebound hits the post, Mbappé shoots again. Over
75' Yellow Card! Franco Mastantuono booked
86' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Espanyol
Line-ups
Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Carvajal, Mbappe, Valverde, Militao, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Álvaro Carreras, Gonzalo García, Raúl Asencio, Franco Mastantuono
Subs: Alaba, Ceballos, Brahim, Lunin, Fran García, Rodrygo, Camavinga, Bellingham, Güler, David Jiménez, Endrick, Sergio Mestre
Espanyol XI: Cabrera, Dmitrovic, Pol Lozano, Calero, Puado, Exposito, Tyrhys Dolan, Urko González de Zárate, Omar El Hilali, Roberto Fernández, Carlos Romero
Subs: Kike, Rubén Sánchez, Charles Pickel, Miguel Rubio, Jofre Carreras, Ramón Terrats, José Salinas, Ángel Fortuño, Antoniu Roca, Clemens Riedel, Luca Koleosho, Javi Hernández