Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2-0 to keep Barcelona waiting for La Liga title

Key facts

• Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-0 at Cornella-El Prat on May 3, 2026.
• Vinicius Júnior scored in the 55th and 66th minutes.
• Attendance was 31,733.
• Barcelona lead La Liga by 11 points with five games remaining.
• Real Madrid have won 25 of the last 30 meetings against Espanyol.
• Espanyol are winless in 16 matches in 2026.
• Kylian Mbappé missed the match due to injury.

Vinicius double delays Barcelona's coronation

Real Madrid kept their dwindling La Liga title hopes alive with a 2-0 victory over Espanyol at the Cornella-El Prat stadium on Sunday night. Vinicius Júnior scored twice in the second half, in the 55th and 66th minutes, to secure three points that prevent Barcelona from clinching the championship this weekend. The result means Barcelona, who beat Osasuna on Saturday, must wait at least another week to seal the title. The Blaugrana can now win La Liga outright by defeating Real Madrid in next Sunday's El Clasico at Camp Nou.

A season on the brink for Real Madrid

Real Madrid entered the match with just one win in their previous four domestic fixtures, a slump that saw them exit the Champions League and fall 11 points behind Barcelona. Manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who is not expected to remain in charge next season, faced mounting pressure as his side risked finishing without a major trophy for the second consecutive year. The victory, though narrow, provides a temporary reprieve. Jude Bellingham came close to adding a third, his left-footed shot from the centre of the box saved by Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic. Franco Mastantuono provided the assist.

Espanyol's winless run continues

Espanyol, once chasing a Champions League qualification place, have plummeted to 13th in the standings after a remarkable 16-match winless run in 2026. The Catalans finished 2025 in European contention but have failed to win a single game since the calendar turned. Despite the defeat, Espanyol still harbour ambitions of European football next season. A victory on Sunday would have put them firmly back in contention, but their poor form continued as Real Madrid dominated possession and created the clearer chances.

Mbappé absence proves beneficial

Kylian Mbappé missed the match with a fresh injury, but his absence may have worked in Real Madrid's favour. Without the Frenchman in the starting XI, Los Blancos had won five of six games in May before Mbappé returned and started throughout Madrid's disastrous April run. The team's improved cohesion without their star forward has been a notable subplot in recent weeks.

El Clasico now a title decider

Barcelona's 11-point lead means Real Madrid must win their remaining five matches and hope for a major collapse from Hansi Flick's side. Failure to defeat Espanyol would have seen Barcelona arrive at next weekend's El Clasico as champions, potentially forcing Real Madrid to give their bitter rivals a guard of honour at Camp Nou. Instead, the Clasico will be a can't-miss affair, with Barcelona needing just a point to seal the title. Real Madrid must win to keep their faint hopes alive, though even victory would only delay the inevitable unless Barcelona suffer an unprecedented collapse.

Head-to-head dominance continues

Real Madrid have now won 25 of the last 30 matches against Espanyol, with Los Periquitos winning only three of those meetings. The historical disparity was evident again on Sunday, as Madrid controlled the game despite their recent struggles. For Espanyol, the defeat extends a miserable run that has seen them tumble from European contenders to mid-table obscurity. Manager Manolo González faces a difficult task to restore morale and results before the season ends.

The bottom line

• Real Madrid's 2-0 win keeps them 11 points behind Barcelona with five games left.
• Vinicius Júnior's brace was decisive, with goals in the 55th and 66th minutes.
• Espanyol remain winless in 16 matches in 2026, falling to 13th in La Liga.
• Kylian Mbappé's injury absence coincided with a better team performance.
• Next Sunday's El Clasico will determine the title: Barcelona need a point, Real Madrid must win.
• Álvaro Arbeloa is expected to be replaced as Real Madrid manager at season's end.