September 20, 2025, wasn't exactly a thriller in the world of soccer, but Real Madrid fans went home happy. They nabbed a solid 2-0 victory against Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabéu. Éder Militão kicked things off with a stunning early goal, and Kylian Mbappé sealed the deal with a sweet finish in the second half.
Madrid is sitting high and pretty at the top of La Liga. They have played five, and won all five. The game wasn't just about numbers, it showed the team is solid. They showed great skill, depth player who is ready to step in when and where needed.
How the game went:
From the kickoff, Madrid was calling the shots. Espanyol took a more cautious approach, setting up defensively in a 4-5-1, clearly trying to frustrate Madrid and disrupt their natural flow. But Madrid kept at it. They attacked with quick passes, smart moves, and constant pressure that Espanyol just couldn't contain.
The game’s momentum definitely shifted in the 22nd minute when Éder Militão scored. That was a mind blowing shot when he got one in from way out! It zipped past the goalie and landed right in the net. It was an amazing goal that put Madrid at up front. Espanyol had to rethink their plan and open up a bit.
Early in the second half, Mbappé made it 2-0 just two minutes after the whistle. Vinícius Júnior weaved down the left side and passed to Mbappé. He buried the ball as easy as you like. That showed everyone just how well Mbappé is fitting in with the team. He and Vinícius Júnior are starting to mesh really well.
After that, Espanyol tried to get forward. Madrid stayed strong, with Militão bossing the defense. Dani Carvajal and lvaro Carreras showed up to help. Thibaut Courtois had little to do, but easily shut down Espanyol’s one real scoring chance in the entire game.
Player Ratings
Thibaut Courtois (7.5/10): He didn't have a lot to deal with, but he kept focused.
Dani Carvajal (7.8/10): had a good performance at both ends of the pitch.
Raúl Asencio (7.4/10): Helped stay solid, and stable at the back.
Éder Militão (8.5/10): Excellent in the air, and scored a screamer of a goal
Álvaro Carreras (8.1/10): A top performance in attack and defense as well.
Franco Mastantuono (7.8/10): Made a great play with so much energy, he disrupted Espanyol in midfield.
Aurélien Tchouaméni (7.0/10): Controlled the midfield and kept everything ticking over.
Fede Valverde (7.5/10): balanced attack and defense without any issues.
Vinícius Júnior (7.5/10): A constant threat out wide, set up Mbappé's goal.
Kylian Mbappé (9.0/10): Scored a key goal and looked dangerous the whole game.
Gonzalo García (6.0/10): Didn’t see much of the ball, didn’t have a big part to play.
Jude Bellingham (10/10): The fans were very happy to see Bellingham back. He has been out with an injury, the fans roared.
Eduardo Camavinga (10/10): He helped fortifying the midfield, the crowd was very happy to see Camavinga back.
Goal Highlights :
- Éder Militão's incredible long-range screamer definitely got the fans pumped!
- Kylian Mbappé finished off their second goal. Vinícius Júnior delivered an absolute master class. Mbappé scored. Another five La Liga goals already. Impressive!
- If you happened to miss the live game, make sure you watch all the match's best action, every save to every goal! You can watch them at Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol | LaLiga Highlights.
What about tactics :
The team played a pretty standard 4-3-3, pressing high up the field and looking to hit Espanyol on the break. Espanyol defended well, but Madrid stretched them using all of the pitch. Espanyol couldn’t carve out many meaningful chances, and made too many mistakes with the ball. Madrid’s game plan came together effectively.
What it means to the team:
- Solid at the Back: Militão and Carreras looked after most of Espanyol’s attacks.
- Attacking with skill: Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé are in great form. You could see defenders shaking.
- Options in Midfield: Bellingham and Camavinga bringing more grit to the squad
- Start to the beginning: Madrid are on fire!
This result puts Real Madrid in a strong chance to win the title. Five wins on the trot keep them a comfortable five points ahead of the competition. Mbappé is on stellar form, he combines the teams young skills, and experience.
With Bellingham and Camavinga back in the fold, the team is much stronger. This will be important for the rest of the season, and in Europe. Espanyol needs to figure out how to threaten in attack, if they hope to move up the league table.
Final musings:
Madrid was too much to handle. Militão’s screamer and Mbappé’s great performance highlighted how the team mixes strategy and individual skill. They've got depth, talent, and the right attitude. Look out for Real Madrid to content again.
A 2-0 win showed confidence, it showed faith and confidence. The chemistry is getting better, it's a scary thing the other clubs now have to deal with.
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