Real Madrid 5-0 Espanyol - Match Report
After Barcelona’s three-one victory against Sporting Gijon on Saturday, the pressure was on Real Madrid last night to beat Espanyol and maintain their ten point lead at the top of La Liga.
After Barcelonas three-one victory against Sporting Gijon on Saturday, the pressure was on Real Madrid last night to beat Espanyol and maintain their ten point lead at the top of La Liga. Madrid ended up winning with a convincing five-nil score line, and giving a commanding performance. In the first half Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with his thirtieth league goal of the season, moving him two goals ahead of Lionel Messi. Fifteen minutes later Sami Khedira scored Real Madrids second goal, in what was his first ever league goal for Madrid. In the second half Gonzalo Higuain scored twice and Kaka scored, as Madrid dominated. Kaka in particular gave a performance reminiscent of his form at AC Milan that once made him World Player of the Year. The Brazilian was a constant problem for the Espanyol defence, and as well as scoring he created most of Madrids best chances. Mourinho was without Angel Di Maria and Karim Benzema due to injuries, and will be hoping Kaka can maintain his fitness and this kind of form. Another notable feature for Real Madrid was the nineteen year old Alvaro Morata. The Madrid-born striker who has come up through the Madrid youth system has been in impressive form for Madrids Castilla, boasting an impressive goal record. He is already being compared to former Madrid great Raul, and was able to play the last ten minutes in Sundays victory. Also brought off the bench were youngsters Raphael Varane and Jose Callejon. It is worth noting, that as Madrid build a squad looking to dominate Europe, they are using an extremely young squad. Out of all of the players Madrid used on Sunday, only Xabi Alonso is over thirty years old.