Espanyol: Cristian Alvarez; Javi López,
Forlín, Héctor Moreno, Didac; Javi Márquez (Dátolo
68'), Raúl Baena; Thievy (Weiss 56'), Verdú, Romaric (Alfonso
73'); Sergio García. 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas;
Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Raúl Albiol, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Lass (Khedira
70'); Özil (Callejón 76'), Kaká (Granero 84'), Cristiano
Ronaldo; Higuaín. 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
0-1. 17. Higuaín. Ran on to Ronaldo through
ball and struck shot past Alvarez.
0-2. 66. Higuaín. Collected
Arbeloa pass and struck angled shot across keeper.
0-3. 82.
Callejón. Steered shot past Alvarez after Ronaldo laid ball across.
0-4. 89. Higuaín. Ran past Moreno on to loose ball and lifted shot
over keeper.
Yellow cards: Thievy 23', Javi López 28', Romaric 31', Lass 49', Weiss 79'.
Real Madrid are just a point behind the two leaders Barcelona and Levante after a comfortable 0-4 win over Espanyol in the last game of the weekend. After dropping points in their last two away games, Madrid had a point to prove, and Alvarez was almost caught out in the third minute by a viciously swerving shot from Ronaldo which he just managed to deflect on to the post. Romaric almost caught Casillas off his line with a long shot soon afterwards, but a minute later Higuaín (taking advantage of a rare start) combined with Kaká and Ronaldo to put the visitors ahead. Midway through the second half Higuaín got his second of the night with an angled shot after picking up a pass from Arbeloa, and with eight minutes to go substitute Callejón made it three against his old club. Casillas still had to be on his toes after that to keep out Sergio García, but with the game coming to a close a Dátolo tackle fell kindly for Higuaín to run past Moreno and complete a much needed hat-trick.