Match ends, Real Madrid 6, Espanyol 0.
Real Madrid 6-0 Espanyol
- From the section European Football
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.
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.
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
Real Madrid
- 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
- 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
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 6, Espanyol 0.
Hand ball by James Rodríguez (Real Madrid).
Foul by Jesé (Real Madrid).
Álvaro González (Espanyol) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Enzo Roco.
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Abraham (Espanyol).
Goal!
Own Goal by Óscar Duarte, Espanyol. Real Madrid 6, Espanyol 0.
Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
Álvaro González (Espanyol) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Attempt saved. Joan Jordán (Espanyol) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
Booking
Casemiro (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
Javi López (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Goal!
Goal! Real Madrid 5, Espanyol 0. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from very close range to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Jesé.
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.
Foul by James Rodríguez (Real Madrid).
Pape Diop (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Hand ball by James Rodríguez (Real Madrid).
Booking
Álvaro González (Espanyol) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Jesé (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Álvaro González (Espanyol).
Attempt missed. Pape Diop (Espanyol) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Hernán Pérez.
Corner, Espanyol. Conceded by Sergio Ramos.
Attempt blocked. Mamadou Sylla (Espanyol) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hernán Pérez.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Karim Benzema.
Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
Abraham (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Abraham (Espanyol) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Offside, Real Madrid. Casemiro tries a through ball, but Jesé is caught offside.
Isco (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Álvaro González (Espanyol).
Foul by Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
Mamadou Sylla (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Isco (Real Madrid).
Pape Diop (Espanyol) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution
Substitution, Real Madrid. Casemiro replaces Toni Kroos.
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.