Vinicius brace keeps Barcelona waiting as Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0

Key facts

• Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 at RCDE Stadium on May 3, 2026.
• Vinicius scored both goals for Real Madrid.
• The win delays Barcelona's potential La Liga title coronation.
• Barcelona can seal the title by beating Real Madrid in El Clásico on May 10, 2026.
• Espanyol's Javi Puado is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
• Real Madrid's Thibaut Courtois (thigh) is back in training; Daniel Carvajal (leg) expected back late May 2026.

Real Madrid delay the inevitable with vital win

Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 at RCDE Stadium on Sunday night, postponing Barcelona's La Liga title celebrations for at least another week. The result means Barcelona, who lead the table, cannot clinch the championship until next Sunday's Clásico at Camp Nou, where they will face Real Madrid. If Real Madrid had failed to win, Barcelona would have been crowned champions immediately. Instead, Los Blancos kept their slim hopes alive and avoided the humiliation of giving their eternal rivals a guard of honour at Camp Nou.

Vinicius double settles tense encounter

Vinicius Junior scored both goals for Real Madrid, netting a brace that proved decisive in a match where the visitors dominated possession but faced stubborn resistance from Espanyol. The Brazilian forward struck in the first half and added a second after the interval, taking his season tally to a significant figure. Real Madrid, wearing their all-black away kit, started brightly and won a free-kick within seconds after Jude Bellingham was fouled. The team controlled the tempo throughout, though Espanyol created several chances that tested the Madrid defence.

Injury concerns and absentees shape lineups

Espanyol were without captain Javi Puado, who is sidelined for the rest of the season with a cruciate ligament injury. Real Madrid also had key absentees: Thibaut Courtois (thigh injury) is back in training but not yet match-fit, Daniel Carvajal (leg injury) is expected to return in late May 2026, Éder Militão (thigh) is out until late September 2026, and Arda Güler (thigh) is out for the season. Both teams fielded strong starting XIs despite the injuries. Espanyol made several substitutions during the match, introducing Charles Pickel and Antoniu Roca in the 61st minute, Jofre Carreras in the 73rd, Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo García in the 53rd, and César Palacios and Eduardo Camavinga in the 84th.

La Liga title race now hinges on El Clásico

Barcelona's coronation is merely delayed, not denied. They hold a commanding lead at the top of the table and need only a draw against Real Madrid next Sunday to secure the title mathematically. A win would seal it in style at Camp Nou, while a defeat would push the decision to later matchdays. For Real Madrid, the victory over Espanyol was essential to maintain any mathematical chance of catching Barcelona. While the title remains a long shot, the win preserves pride and sets up a mouthwatering Clásico with genuine stakes.

What comes next for both sides

Real Madrid now travel to Camp Nou for the most anticipated fixture of the season. A win would keep the title race alive, while a loss would hand Barcelona the trophy in front of their home fans. Espanyol, meanwhile, will look to regroup and finish the season strongly, though their injury list complicates matters. The Clásico on May 10 will be broadcast live, with kick-off scheduled for 19:00 UTC. All eyes will be on Barcelona to see if they can clinch a historic title against their fiercest rivals.

The bottom line

• Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Espanyol delays Barcelona's La Liga title win until at least May 10.
• Vinicius Junior scored both goals for Real Madrid at RCDE Stadium.
• Barcelona can seal the title by beating Real Madrid in El Clásico next Sunday.
• Espanyol's Javi Puado is out for the season with a cruciate ligament injury.
• Real Madrid's injury list includes Courtois, Carvajal, Militão, and Güler, with varying return dates.