Vinícius Júnior double keeps Barcelona waiting as Real Madrid win at Espanyol

Key facts

• Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 at RCDE Stadium in the 34th round of La Liga.
• Vinícius Júnior scored his 14th and 15th league goals of the season, taking his club tally to 126 in 372 matches.
• Real Madrid remain 14 points behind Barcelona with five matches remaining.
• Barcelona can clinch the La Liga title with a win in the Clásico on Sunday, May 11.
• Espanyol had more shots (17 to 15) but Real Madrid had 66% possession and an expected goals figure of 1.66.
• Jude Bellingham assisted Vinícius's second goal; Gonzalo García set up the first.
• Real Madrid were without Kylian Mbappé (injury) and Dani Carvajal.

Lede: Real Madrid delay Barcelona's title party

Real Madrid kept their faint La Liga title hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, forcing Barcelona to wait at least another week before they can seal the championship. The win, secured by a Vinícius Júnior brace in the second half, means Barça could now clinch the crown in the Clásico next Sunday — a scenario that adds extraordinary stakes to the season's most anticipated fixture.

Vinícius Júnior delivers when it matters

The Brazilian winger broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, finishing a pass from Gonzalo García to score his 14th league goal of the campaign. Just 11 minutes later, Jude Bellingham turned provider, setting up Vinícius for his second of the night and his 15th in La Liga this season. The goals took his overall tally for Real Madrid to 126 in 372 appearances, underlining his status as the team's most decisive attacker in the absence of injured star Kylian Mbappé.

A match of contrasting styles

The contest was balanced for long periods, with Espanyol registering 17 shots to Real Madrid's 15. However, the visitors were far more efficient in front of goal, posting an expected goals figure of 1.66 compared to Espanyol's 1.26. Real Madrid also dominated possession with 66%, controlling the tempo and creating the clearer chances. Espanyol battled throughout, forcing Andriy Lunin into several saves, but ultimately lacked the cutting edge to trouble Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Title race math: Barcelona's magic number

Real Madrid entered the match 14 points behind Barcelona with only five matches left in the season, meaning a loss would have ended their title challenge mathematically. The win delays the inevitable, but Barça still need just one more victory — or a combination of results — to claim the league. That victory could come in the Clásico at the Camp Nou next Sunday, where a Barcelona win would hand them the title with four games to spare, a historic achievement.

Absences and adjustments

Real Madrid were without Kylian Mbappé, who missed the match due to injury, and club captain Dani Carvajal. Manager Álvaro Arbeloa — who has led the team since Carlo Ancelotti's departure — relied on Vinícius and Bellingham to provide the attacking spark. The lineup featured Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen, and Ferland Mendy in defense, with Aurélien Tchouaméni and Fede Valverde anchoring midfield. Espanyol, sitting mid-table but only five points above the relegation zone, fielded a side led by Marko Dmitrović in goal.

What next: El Clásico with the title on the line

All eyes now turn to next Sunday's Clásico, where Barcelona can seal the La Liga title with a win over their archrivals. For Real Madrid, victory would keep their hopes mathematically alive, though they would still trail by 11 points with four matches remaining — a near-insurmountable gap. The match also carries symbolic weight: Barcelona would clinch the title at home against their biggest rivals, a scenario that would be both a celebration and a humiliation for Madrid. The stage is set for one of the most consequential Clásicos in recent memory.

Closing analysis: A temporary reprieve

Real Madrid's win over Espanyol was a professional, controlled performance, but it only delays the inevitable. Barcelona's 14-point lead with five games left is a commanding advantage that only a catastrophic collapse could erase. For Vinícius Júnior, the night was a reminder of his importance to this team; for Madrid, it was a brief stay of execution. The Clásico will determine whether the title race ends in a blaze of glory for Barcelona or sputters on for another week. Either way, the league is Barça's to lose.

The bottom line

• Vinícius Júnior scored twice to give Real Madrid a 2-0 win over Espanyol, delaying Barcelona's title celebration.
• Barcelona can win La Liga by beating Real Madrid in the Clásico on Sunday, May 11.
• Real Madrid trail Barcelona by 14 points with five matches remaining.
• Vinícius now has 15 league goals this season and 126 for Real Madrid in all competitions.
• Espanyol had more shots but Real Madrid were more efficient, with 66% possession and a higher expected goals figure.
• Real Madrid were without Kylian Mbappé and Dani Carvajal due to injury.