Real Madrid 6-0 Espanyol

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick as Real Madrid thrashed Espanyol to cut the gap between themselves and La Liga leaders Barcelona to four points.

Real scored three goals in the first 16 minutes, with Karim Benzema heading the first from a James Rodriguez cross.

Ronaldo then added a penalty before Rodriguez scored with a deflected shot.

Ronaldo made it 4-0 by half-time with a fizzing effort before completing his hat-trick with a header, which was followed by a Oscar Duarte own goal.

Karim Benzema's early header was his 18th La Liga goal of the season

With Rodriguez filling in for the injured Gareth Bale in Real's front three, Espanyol were ripped apart.

Ronaldo was the star as he moved level with Barcelona's Luis Suarez - on 19 goals - in the race to be La Liga's leading scorer.

From Deepdale to despair

It was a testing debut for Espanyol's new goalkeeper Giedrius Arlauskis, signed on loan from Watford during the week.

The Lithuania international faced England in a Euro 2016 qualifier in October, but his only previous start at club level this season was for the Hornets in a Capital One Cup defeat at Preston in August.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Giedrius Arlauskis — Giedrius Arlauskis was beaten three times in the first 16 minutes of his Espanyol debut

Arlauskis saved well from Ronaldo's early free-kick and could not be blamed for Real's three quick goals.

He also got a hand to Ronaldo's shot for his second goal, but the Portugal international's dazzling footwork deserved reward as he bamboozled the visiting defence to create space to score.

The goal rout ended when Costa Rica international Duarte turned Jese's low cross into his own net.

What next?

Both teams are in La Liga action next Sunday, with Real Madrid visiting relegation-threatened Granada, while Espanyol host Real Sociedad.

Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text

Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation 4-3-3

1Navas
15Carvajal
2Varane
4Ramos
12Marcelo
19ModricSubstituted forRodríguez Ruizat 63'minutes
8KroosSubstituted forCasemiroat 70'minutesBooked at 84mins
22Isco
10Rodríguez
9BenzemaSubstituted forVázquezat 75'minutes
7Cristiano Ronaldo

Substitutes

6Nacho
13Casilla
14Casemiro
16Kovacic
18Vázquez
20Rodríguez Ruiz
23Danilo

Espanyol

Formation 4-2-3-1

1Arlauskis
16López RodríguezBooked at 42mins
22González SoberónBooked at 77mins
6Roco
3DuarteSubstituted forFuentes Hernándezat 45'minutes
4Sánchez MataSubstituted forGonzález Casanovaat 57'minutes
12DiopBooked at 37mins
17Arsensio PérezBooked at 11mins
19Jordán Moreno
8Sevilla LópezSubstituted forDuarteat 45'minutes
28Sylla DialloBooked at 42mins

Substitutes

10González Casanova
11Montañés Claverías
13López
14Cañas Ruiz Herrera
15Ciani
18Fuentes Hernández
24Duarte

Referee:: Alejandro José Hernández Hernández
Attendance:: 65,768

Match Stats

Home TeamReal MadridAway TeamEspanyol

Possession: Home68%; Away32%

Shots: Home18; Away15

Shots on Target: Home7; Away5

Corners: Home3; Away1

Fouls: Home20; Away20

Live Text

Post update
Match ends, Real Madrid 6, Espanyol 0.
90'+3'
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 6, Espanyol 0.

90'+2'
Post update
Hand ball by James Rodríguez (Real Madrid).
90'+1'
Post update
Foul by Jesé (Real Madrid).
90'+1'
Post update
Álvaro González (Espanyol) wins a free kick on the right wing.
89'
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Enzo Roco.
88'
Post update
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
88'
Post update
Foul by Abraham (Espanyol).
86'
Goal!
Own Goal by Óscar Duarte, Espanyol. Real Madrid 6, Espanyol 0.
85'
Post update
Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
85'
Post update
Álvaro González (Espanyol) wins a free kick on the right wing.
85'
Post update
Attempt saved. Joan Jordán (Espanyol) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
84'
Booking
Casemiro (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
84'
Post update
Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
84'
Post update
Javi López (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
82'
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 5, Espanyol 0. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jesé.
80'
Post update
Attempt saved. Abraham (Espanyol) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Álvaro González with a cross.
79'
Post update
Foul by James Rodríguez (Real Madrid).
79'
Post update
Pape Diop (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
79'
Post update
Hand ball by James Rodríguez (Real Madrid).

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