Melamed fouls Valverde in frustration. The visitors are edging towards the three points tonight.
90' +2
Carvajal breaks down the right flank in the late stages of the game, but his low cross is gathered with ease by Diego Lopez.
90'
There will be four minutes of added time.
87'
Vinícius Júnior gets yellow.
Vinicius goes into the book for a loose challenge on Melando.
86'
The time is now for the home side to force the issue. There's nothing for them to lose at this stage.
84'
Pol Lozano enters the game and replaces David López.
Lozano is on for the home side to replace David Lopez.
82'
Vinicius combines with Benzema, who tees up Rodrygo for a strike at goal. However, Espanyol have enough men back to quell the danger as Pedrosa makes the block.
81'
Vinicius gets back to track down the run of Victor Gomez down the flank. He stops his progress with a solid challenge before leading the Madrid counter.
78'
We're back underway in this LaLiga contest.
Minute
Description
77'
The referee pauses the game for a cooling break with 13 minutes remaining.
76'
Varane searches for the run of Marcelo down the left flank, but the ball skips off the pitch and travels out for a throw-in. Marcelo pounds the ground in frustration.
74'
Zidane does look a little bit concerned with his side's performance in the second half. They've not been quite at it and the home side are growing in confidence.
73'
Melamed cuts the ball back from the left flank to David Lopez in space. He strikes at goal with power, but Courtois gets down to make a comfortable stop low to his left.
71'
Madrid need to up the ante here just to ensure there's no late slip. They've been solid this evening, but Espanyol have threatened more than Los Blancos in the second half.
69'
Nico Melamed enters the game and replaces Darder.
J. Calleri enters the game and replaces Adri Embarba.
Calleri replaces Embarba in the final third for the hosts.
Darder makes way for Melamed down the left flank for Espanyol.
68'
Adrià Pedrosa gets yellow.
Pedrosa catches the back of Carvajal's heel and goes into the book for his challenge.
66'
De Tomas rises to head at goal, latching on to Cabrera's flick, but he guides his effort wide of the post.
65'
Victor Gomez draws a foul in the final third and De Tomas stands over the ball from the resulting free-kick from 30 yards out.
64'
Vinícius Júnior enters the game and replaces E. Hazard.
Rodrygo enters the game and replaces Isco.
Rodrygo comes on for Isco in the final third.
63'
Hazard has been below-par this evening and is replaced by Vinicius.
61'
It has been a steady opening 16 minutes since the restart. Neither side has been too adventurous. Zidane might be getting twitchy as Los Blancos will want to kill off the game to ease the tension.
59'
Victor Gomez finds space down the right flank and he sends a low cross towards the near post. De Tomas slices an attempt towards goal and it allows Courtois to watch it from a height fall into his hands.
57'
Óscar Melendo enters the game and replaces Wu Lei.
Melendo replaces Wu Lei for the home side.
Neither side has found a rhythm since the restart. It will be more of a concern for Rufete in his side's bid to get back into the game.
55'
Kroos sets his sights on effort from distance after finding space in the final third, only to blast his attempt well over the bar.
54'
Casemiro lines up the free-kick, only to smash his effort straight into the wall.
53'
Espinosa brings down Hazard in the final third and the foul hands Madrid a free-kick in a dangerous position.
46'
Adrià Pedrosa enters the game and replaces Dídac Vilá.
We're back underway in this LaLiga clash.
Pedrosa replaces Vila at left-back for the home side at the break.
45' +4
HALF-TIME: ESPANYOL 0-1 REAL MADRID
45' +2
Isco chases a long ball over the top, but just cannot keep the ball in play down the left flank.
45'
Casemiro has scored a goal for Real Madrid! Assist by K. Benzema.
GOALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!! CASEMIRO PUTS MADRID AHEAD!!!!!! 1-0!!! Madrid take the lead as the Brazilian scores with an outstretched left boot, poking his effort past Diego Lopez. Benzema is the architect with a fine backheel through the legs of Espinosa. Casemiro gambles and gets there ahead of Cabrera and the Espanyol keeper to score.
Benzema collects an offload into the box and fends off Espinosa before backheeling a pass to Casemiro to collect and score.
There will be three minutes of added time.
43'
Isco draws a foul in the final third from a tackle from Embarba. Kroos wil lift a cross into the box.
41'
Hazard sums up Madrid's evening so far. The Belgian receives the ball in plenty of space down the right from Benzema, only to fail to beat the first defender with his cross into the middle. He's annoyed with himself.
39'
There's a lack of urgency out there from Los Blancos thus far. They've had ample possession, but have not found the breakthrough yet. Patience may be required this evening.
37'
Valverde has space and time, but he sends a pass straight through to Diego Lopez. There's a few bemused looks from his team-mates.
34'
We're back underway in this LaLiga contest.
32'
The referee pauses the game for a cooling break.
31'
Kroos lifts the ball into the box where Ramos rises highest, but he heads his effort straight at Diego Lopez. However, the Madrid skipper was offside anyway.
30'
Roca brings down Hazard in the final third, handing Madrid a free-kick in a threatening position.
28'
There have been promising signs for Espanyol, especially down the right flank. However, Rufete will be imploring his players to discover a clinical edge in the final third.
26'
Wu Lei runs into another promising position in the final third. He tries to beat Ramos on the edge of the box, but the defender halts his progress with a strong challenge.
22'
Kroos tries to thread the needle towards Isco, but the Spaniard is caught offside in the Espanyol half.
20'
Roca whips the ball into a dangerous area with pace from the set-piece, but Courtois watches it all the way to palm it away from danger.
19'
Ramos bundles over Victor Gomez on the right flank, handing the home side a free-kick in a decent position.
18'
Isco works the ball towards Hazard, who tries a dummy to release Benzema. However, Bernardo is alert and makes the clearance for the home side.
16'
Madrid are knocking the ball around the pitch with a positive intent and are making inroads into the Espanyol defence. The home side have to hang tough here.
13'
Marcelo surges forward and produces a neat turn to create space for a strike. He sees his drive deflected just wide of the post by David Lopez.
12'
Hazard tries to turn in the middle of the park, but gets his heels clipped by Victor Gomez. The visitors are starting to find their rhythm.
9'
Isco draws a foul on the right flank and Kroos will send the resulting free-kick into the penalty area.
8'
Madrid have yet to put their foot on the ball in an attacking sense in the contest. The visitors might be just sitting back to see how Espanyol are planning to approach the game.
6'
The home side probe on the edge of the box, but Darder cannot find space for a strike before Wu Lei fails to find a team-mate with his cross.
1'
We're underway in this LaLiga clash.
Embarba is pulled back by Varane 30 yards from goal and the home side are awarded a free-kick. The winger goes for goal from the set-piece, but he sends a tame effort straight at Courtois.
Good evening and welcome to the live commentary of the LaLiga clash between Espanyol and Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium.
Espanyol made the call to sack Abelardo Fernandez yesterday following their indifferent form since the restart. Sporting director Francisco Rufete has taken charge of the first team, although the club's challenge to remain in LaLiga has taken a further blow ahead of tonight's fixture as Eibar have defeated Granada to move clear of the relegation zone. As a result, the Catalan club are now 10 points adrift of safety from 17th-place Celta Vigo. It will take an incredible effort to overcome Madrid this evening.
Madrid will head into the tonight's fixture smelling blood in the water after watching Barcelona suffer a late setback against Celta Vigo. A win tonight for Los Blancos would take them two points clear at the top of the table. Zinedine Zidane's men have been in dominant form since the restart, winning all four of their matches, including their 2-0 triumph over Real Mallorca on Wednesday. Another victory would really put the pressure on Barca.
ESPANYOL (4-4-2): Diego Lopez; Victor Lopez, Bernardo Espinosa, Leandro Cabrera, Didac Vila; Adrian Embarba, Marc Roca, David Lopez, Sergi Darder; Raul de Tomas, Wu Lei.
ESPANYOL SUBS: Adria Pedrosa, Victor Sanchez, Naldo, Jonathan Calleri, Oscar Melendo, Javi Lopez, Matias Vargas, Fernando Calero, Oier Olazabal, Pol Lozano, Victor Campuzano, Nicolas Melamed.
REAL MADRID (4-3-3): Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo; Federico Valverde, Casemiro, Toni Kroos; Isco, Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard.
REAL MADRID SUBS: Alphonse Areola, Eder Militao, Gareth Bale, James Rodriguez, Marco Asensio, Brahim Diaz, Mariano, Vinicius Junior, Diego Altube, Rodrygo, Javi Hernandez, Miguel Gutierrez.
Francisco Rufete will be frustrated by his side's inability to see out the remaining minutes in the first half. Madrid have not been at their best, but they were clinical enough when it mattered the most. Espanyol face a huge task to get back into the contest in the second period.
Thanks for joining our commentary this evening. Until next time, goodbye.
Espanyol are next in action on the road against Real Sociedad on Thursday, while Madrid host Getafe on the same day.
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