Vinícius Júnior double delays Barcelona's LaLiga title as Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0

Key facts

• Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 at RCDE Stadium in the 34th round of LaLiga EA Sports 25/26.
• Vinícius Júnior scored both goals, in the 55th and 66th minutes, taking his league tally to 15 goals in 33 matches.
• Jude Bellingham provided the assist for the second goal with a back-heel; Gonzalo García assisted the first.
• Barcelona lead Real Madrid by 11 points with four games remaining after beating Osasuna 2-1 on Saturday.
• Espanyol remain winless in 17 consecutive league games in 2025, with 10 losses, sitting 13th, five points above relegation.
• Espanyol had more shots (17 to 15) but Real Madrid had higher expected goals (1.66 to 1.26) and 66% possession.
• Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali received a straight red card that was downgraded to yellow after video review.

Real Madrid keep title race alive with hard-fought win

Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 on Sunday night at the RCDE Stadium, postponing Barcelona's LaLiga title celebrations for at least another week. The victory reduced Barcelona's lead to 11 points with four matches remaining, keeping the title mathematically alive. Barcelona had opened a 14-point gap on Saturday by beating Osasuna 2-1, meaning anything less than a Madrid win would have handed the Catalan club its 29th league title this weekend.

Vinícius Júnior breaks deadlock after balanced first half

The match was tightly contested for long spells, with both sides creating chances. Espanyol registered 17 shots to Real Madrid's 15, but the visitors were more clinical. The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute when Gonzalo García set up Vinícius Júnior, who faked past two defenders inside the area and slotted home. It was Vinícius's 14th league goal of the campaign and his 126th for the club in his 372nd appearance.

Bellingham's back-heel sets up second as Madrid seal victory

Just 11 minutes later, Jude Bellingham delivered a beautiful back-heel pass to Vinícius Júnior, who fired into the top corner from close range. The goal doubled Madrid's lead and effectively ended the contest. Vinícius's second strike brought his league tally to 15 goals in 33 matches. The Brazilian was the standout performer, combining control and clinical finishing to secure a professional away win for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Espanyol's winless run continues amid relegation fears

Sunday's result extended Espanyol's winless streak in 2025 to 17 consecutive league games, with 10 losses. The team sits in 13th place, five points above the relegation zone with four matches left. Espanyol battled throughout and forced Real Madrid to work, but they lacked efficiency in front of goal. Defender Omar El Hilali was initially shown a straight red card for a foul on Vinícius in the first half, but the decision was overturned to a yellow after video review.

Barcelona's title chance now hinges on clásico

Barcelona, who beat Osasuna 2-1 on Saturday, will have the opportunity to clinch the title next weekend when they host Real Madrid at Camp Nou in the clásico. A win or draw would secure the league crown for Xavi's side. The 11-point gap means Real Madrid must win and hope Barcelona drop points in their remaining fixtures. Barcelona's lead stood at 14 points before Sunday's match, but Madrid's victory kept the race alive for at least one more round.

Statistical breakdown: Madrid's efficiency edges Espanyol's volume

Despite Espanyol outshooting Real Madrid 17-15, the visitors created clearer chances, posting an expected goals figure of 1.66 compared with Espanyol's 1.26. Real Madrid had five shots on target from their 15 attempts and controlled 66% of possession. The match was balanced for long periods, but Madrid's greater share of the ball and superior finishing proved decisive. Vinícius Júnior's brace was the difference, taking his season tally to 15 league goals.

What next: Clásico showdown to decide title fate

All eyes now turn to next weekend's clásico at Camp Nou, where Barcelona can seal the title with a victory or draw against their archrivals. Real Madrid must win to keep their faint hopes alive and force the race to the final three matchdays. For Espanyol, the focus shifts to survival, as they seek to end their winless streak and secure safety. The title race, though nearly decided, still holds drama as the season enters its final weeks.

The bottom line

• Vinícius Júnior scored twice to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Espanyol, delaying Barcelona's title celebrations.
• Barcelona lead by 11 points with four games left; they can clinch the league with a win or draw in next weekend's clásico.
• Espanyol remain winless in 17 consecutive league games in 2025, sitting five points above the relegation zone.
• Real Madrid had 66% possession and higher expected goals (1.66 to 1.26) despite Espanyol having more shots.
• Omar El Hilali's red card was downgraded to yellow after video review, a key incident in the first half.
• The clásico at Camp Nou next weekend will determine whether Barcelona seal the title or Madrid keep the race alive.