🫨 Title race in the balance as Espanyol stun Real Madrid with late win | OneFootball

Scorers: Romero 85'

Real Madrid's march to another La Liga title has been dealt a potential hammer blow tonight after the Spanish giants were shocked by relegation-threatened Espanyol during a 1-0 loss in Catalunya.

Despite a dominant first-half display from the Spanish giants, the opening stanza was marred after star defender Antonio Rüdiger limped off with an apparent injury, throwing into question just how Carlo Ancelotti will stabalise his back four.

Espanyol were second-best across the opening 45 minutes of action, but the home side did, however, have a halfway decent chance in the 18th minute, but Jofre Carreras could only tamely dispatch his effort for Thibaut Courtois to collect effortlessly.

Even though Real Madrid enjoyed 75% of the possession, they were held to just three shots - one of which was on target - before heading into the dressing room during the interval, with both sides combining for a paltry 0.24 xG.

It was a brighter start to the second half by Mbappé and company, with questions being asked on how they managed to not score in the 51st minute when Espanyol shot-stopper Joan García was forced into a huge double save to deny a match-opener.

The visitors were perhaps unlucky to not be given a man advantage in the 60th minute when Mbappé was brought down at full-tilt by Carlos Romero after his studs racked the back of the Frenchman's left leg.

Real Madrid would continue to turn the screws in the attacking third, but it was Espanyol that took a shock lead in the 85th minute through none other than Romero when he slotted home with a full volley from close range despite arguably being lucky to still be on the pitch.

The league leaders will now wait with bated breath as Barcelona could close the gap to four points, with Atlétio de Madrid now just one point behind. Espanyol, have now climbed out of the bottom three after this huge result.

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