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First Division - Day 19

Espanyol 0 - Real Madrid 1

Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Javi López, Colotto, Héctor Moreno, Fuentes; Raúl Rodríguez; Torje (Simao 64’), Víctor Sánchez, Alex Fernández (Lanzarote 64’), Stuani (Pizzi 83’); Córdoba. 4-1-4-1.
Madrid: Diego López; Dani Carvajal (Arbeloa 90’), Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; Modric, Xabi Alonso, Di María; Bale (Jesé 75’), Benzema (Illarramendi 89‘), Ronaldo. 4-3-3.

Goals:
0-1. 55. Pepe. Steered header down past Casilla from wide Modric free kick.

Yellow cards: Modric 12’, Torje 57’, Córdoba 82’.

Real Madrid moved to within three points of joint leaders Barcelona and Atlético after a 0-1 win at Espanyol on Sunday evening. The draw between the top two the day before had given Ancelotti’s side a chance to narrow the gap, although at first they were pegged back, Stuani almost putting the Catalans ahead when he headed just wide of the post early on. After that though Madrid took control, Benzema going close a couple of times and Kiko Casilla having to save a long shot and then a free kick from Cristiano Ronaldo. Soon after the restart Pepe opened the scoring with a header from a wide Modric free kick, and Casilla was in action again to keep out Ronaldo and Benzema later on. Javi López did fire a shot wide near the end, but the visitors held on for a win which maintains the nine point gap over fourth placed Athletic Bilbao. Madrid’s 47 points at the halfway stage is ten more than they achieved last season under Mourinho, although this year the two leaders are setting the bar even higher than ever.