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 both goals in the 55th and 66th minutes.
• The win keeps Real Madrid 11 points behind Barcelona with five games remaining.
• Barcelona can clinch the La Liga title with a win in next Sunday's El Clásico.
• Espanyol have gone 16 matches without a win in 2026.
• Real Madrid have won 25 of the last 30 meetings against Espanyol.
• Kylian Mbappé missed the match due to injury; Madrid have performed better without him recently.
• Attendance was 31,733 at the stadium.

Vinicius double keeps Madrid alive

Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory over Espanyol at Cornella-El Prat on Sunday, keeping their faint La Liga title hopes alive for at least another week. Vinicius Júnior scored twice in the second half, in the 55th and 66th minutes, to give Los Blancos a much-needed win. The result means Barcelona cannot seal the championship until at least next Sunday's El Clásico, where a win would crown them champions.

Madrid's uphill battle

Real Madrid entered the match with just one win in their last four domestic games, a poor run that has seen them fall 11 points behind Barcelona. The team has struggled throughout April, winning only once in six matches across all competitions, including elimination from the Champions League. Manager Álvaro Arbeloa, who is not expected to remain in charge next season, needed a response from his side to keep any realistic title hopes alive.

Espanyol's winless streak continues

Espanyol, once chasing a Champions League place, have plummeted to 13th in the standings after a remarkable 16-match winless run in 2026. The team finished 2025 in European contention but has failed to win a single game since the calendar turned. Despite their struggles, Espanyol still have something to play for, as a victory could have put them back in the race for European qualification.

Mbappé absence proves beneficial

Kylian Mbappé missed the match with a fresh injury, a development that may have worked in Madrid's favor. Without the Frenchman in the starting lineup, Los Blancos had won five of six games in May before Mbappé returned and started throughout the team's dismal April. The victory over Espanyol continued that trend, suggesting the team functions more cohesively without their star forward.

El Clásico now a title decider

Barcelona's win over Osasuna on Saturday put additional pressure on Madrid, leaving no margin for error. Failure to defeat Espanyol would have meant Barcelona arriving at next weekend's El Clásico as back-to-back La Liga champions, potentially forcing Madrid to give a guard of honor to their bitter rivals at Camp Nou. Instead, the victory sets up a high-stakes encounter where Barcelona can seal the title with a win, while Madrid must prevail to keep their slim hopes alive.

Historic dominance in head-to-head

Real Madrid have now won 25 of the last 30 meetings against Espanyol, with Los Periquitos winning only three of those encounters. The head-to-head record underscores Madrid's historical superiority, but the current context makes this victory particularly significant given the team's recent struggles. The win also marked only the second victory in Madrid's last five league matches, a sign of the team's ongoing difficulties.

The bottom line

• Real Madrid's 2-0 win over Espanyol keeps them 11 points behind Barcelona with five games left.
• Vinicius Júnior's brace in the second half was decisive for Los Blancos.
• Barcelona can win the La Liga title by beating Madrid in next Sunday's El Clásico.
• Espanyol have gone 16 matches without a win in 2026, falling from European contention to 13th place.
• Kylian Mbappé's absence coincided with a Madrid victory, continuing a pattern of better results without him.
• Real Madrid's poor April, with only one win in six games, has left them on the brink of a second consecutive trophyless season.