Karim Benzema scored two late goals as La Liga champions Real Madrid beat Espanyol in a thrilling finale.
Vinicius Jr gave Real the lead from a clever Aurelien Tchouameni ball.
Joselu levelled with a rebound after Thibaut Courtois saved his first effort and the experienced striker had other chances to give Espanyol the lead.
Benzema volleyed in Rodrygo’s cross to give Real the lead and he added a third from a free-kick against makeshift goalkeeper Leandro Cabrera.
Espanyol’s starting goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte was shown a straight red card in the sixth minute of injury time for a professional foul on Dani Ceballos – after a long video assistant referee review.
The hosts had a goalkeeper on the bench but had used their three substitution windows so had to put captain Cabrera in goal instead.
He was rooted to the spot as Benzema – who also had a goal disallowed for offside – curled the resulting free-kick into the bottom corner. That was his 327th goal for Real and his first from a direct free-kick.
Defending champions Real have won their opening three games of the La Liga season.
Espanyol, without a win this season, will rue their missed chances when the game was 1-1.
Line-ups
Espanyol
Formation 4-1-4-1
- 13LecomteBooked at 90mins
- 2Gil
- 5Calero
- 4Cabrera
- 14Oliván
- 12de Souza CostaSubstituted forBareat 68′minutes
- 27Sánchez
- 20Expósito JaénSubstituted forGómez Alcónat 89′minutes
- 10Darder
- 7PuadoSubstituted forMelamedat 78′minutes
- 9Joselu
Substitutes
- 1García
- 8Bare
- 16Lazo
- 19Gómez Alcón
- 21Melamed
- 26El Hilali
- 28Keddari Boulif
- 31Villahermosa
- 32Zoubdi Touaizi
- 34Fortuño
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Courtois
- 17VázquezSubstituted forCarvajalat 85′minutes
- 3Militão
- 22Rüdiger
- 4Alaba
- 10ModricSubstituted forCamavingaat 58′minutes
- 18Tchouaméni
- 8KroosSubstituted forCeballosat 80′minutes
- 15ValverdeSubstituted forRodrygoat 58′minutes
- 9Benzema
- 20Vinícius Júnior
Substitutes
- 2Carvajal
- 7E Hazard
- 11Asensio
- 12Camavinga
- 13Lunin
- 19Ceballos
- 21Rodrygo
- 23Mendy
- 24Mariano
- 26López Andúgar
- Referee:
- Mario Melero López
- Attendance:
- 25,778
Live Text
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Match ends, Espanyol 1, Real Madrid 3.
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Second Half ends, Espanyol 1, Real Madrid 3.
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Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by David Alaba.
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Goal! Espanyol 1, Real Madrid 3. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) from a free kick with a right footed shot to the bottom right corner.
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Benjamin Lecomte (Espanyol) is shown the red card.
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VAR Decision: Card upgraded Benjamin Lecomte (Espanyol).
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Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Benjamin Lecomte (Espanyol).
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Attempt blocked. Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Ceballos with a cross.
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Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Benjamin Lecomte.
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Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by David Alaba with a cross.
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Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Dani Gómez (Espanyol).
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Attempt blocked. Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Eduardo Camavinga.
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Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Foul by Óscar Gil (Espanyol).
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Dani Ceballos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Leandro Cabrera (Espanyol).
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Substitution, Espanyol. Dani Gómez replaces Edu Expósito.
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Goal! Espanyol 1, Real Madrid 2. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Rodrygo with a cross.
