Liga, Real drops the trio: 3-1 at Espanyol before Barcelona

With a couple of goals from Brazil, Vinicius and Militao, and the final sentence from Asensio, Madrid comeback and beat Espanyol 3-1 to sleep at -6 from Barcelona, ​​on the field tomorrow night in Bilbao. All within a week of the Clásico, scheduled for next Sunday at the Camp Nou. But first Madrid, today not very interested in the challenge, receives Liverpool on Wednesday for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16.

Without Karim

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To start the triptych of games Ancelotti can’t count on Benzema, who is resting as a precaution following an ankle injury, and so it is Rodrygo who is the center forward and not the 18-year-old center forward Alvaro Rodriguez. In defense Nacho for Rudiger and Camavinga again used as left back. In between Tchouameni with Kroos and Modric.

Surprise

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After the minute of silence dedicated to the memory of Italo Galbiati, who as assistant to Fabio Capello with Madrid won the Liga in 1997 and in 2007, Ancelotti’s team entered the field listlessly, and surprisingly went under in the 8th minute: Ruben Sanchez dropped Camavinga and centered for Joselu, left completely free by Militao. The strike with his left foot is precise and leaves no way out for Courtois. And in the quarter of an hour the Belgian had to intervene on a dangerous header by Vini Souza.

The invention

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From one Vinicius to another, because the one from Madrid in the 22nd minute invented the draw by himself: the ball in his sector, the Brazilian returns to the right and lets go of a precise shot that slips into the net near the far post. The draw woke up Madrid, who began to control the match and look for the second goal, but with little precision: oversized shots from Kroos, Valverde and Rodrygo.

Overtaking

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The comeback was completed just before the break, when Tchouameni’s magnificent cross from the right with the outside of his right foot met Militao’s great leap at the far post. Nothing to do for Pacheco and reversed result. For the Brazilian centre-back 4 goals in La Liga, all headers, and 6 in the season, a personal best.

Yawns, crossbar and goal

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After an amusing first part, a cloud of chloroform descended on the Bernabeu, with some attempts at low relief between one yawn and another. The only flash came in the 75th minute when a good free-kick from Rodrygo from the edge hit the crossbar. In the final, Espanyol, who had drawn at the Camp Nou and at the Metropolitano, were looking for a 2-2 and collected the 3-1: Nacho led, unloaded on Asensio who beat Pacheco. Before facing two great opponents, only victory counted for Ancelotti’s men, and it has arrived.