Real Madrid have stumbled to a shock defeat in La Liga as the race for the league title gathers momentum, MySportDab reports.
The star-studded side went into the game top of the table and a win would have seen them extend the lead at the top to four points above Atletico Madrid in second place and 11 points above Barcelona in third place.
But it ended on a disappointing note at the RCDE Stadium in Catalonia.
Wielding about 77% of the ball throughout the game and firing 21 shots with 7 on target, they couldn’t find a breakthrough.
Espanyol had 23% ball possession with just 2 shots on target out of 5 but ended up making the best out of their limited shots.
Meanwhile, from the start, the game was poised for a nervy finish. Espanyol gameplan was crystal clear – settle for the defense and catch the visitors on counter attack.
It worked out at the end of the day as they defied the odds and pressure to finally deal a blow to the Ancelotti-led army.
After a barren first half, the game nearly ended barren but 23-year-old Spanish left-back, on loan from Villarreal, Cristiano Romero, stunned the Galacticos just five minutes before regulation time.
It was a simple team effort that led to the goal. After reeling from pressure from a Madrid offensive, they luckily won the ball back, broke on a quick counter led by Romero.
The ball was later delivered back to Romero who then volleyed it past a helplessness Thibaut Courtouis to make it 1-0.
After conceding, Real Madrid stepped up play and press harder for the equalizer with only five minutes of regulation time left but the hosts were able to hold their nerve and run away with all three points at the blast of the final whistle.
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