Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao; Isco, Kroos (Khedira 81’), James (Nacho 54‘); Bale, Benzema (Illarramendi 63‘), Cristiano Ronaldo. 4-3-3.
Espanyol: Kiko Casilla; Arbilla, Colotto, Alvaro, Fuentes; Víctor Sánchez (Julián Luque 62‘), Cañas, Joan Jordán (Stuani 68‘), Paco Montañés; Sergio García (Abraham 82‘), Caicedo. 4-4-2.
Goals:
1-0. 12. James. Turned shot past Casilla after Ronaldo laid back long Bale centre.
2-0. 28. Bale. Curled free kick over defensive wall past keeper and in off near post.
3-0. 76. Nacho. Controlled Arbeloa cross and fired angled shot wide of keeper.
Yellow cards: Fuentes 27’, Ronaldo 53’, Víctor Sánchez 58’, Arbilla 70’, Montañés 76’ / red cards: Coentrao 53’.
Leaders Real Madrid are back on track after a 3-0 victory over Espanyol in the first game on Saturday! After defeats in the league and the cup in the last eight days, Ancelotti’s side really needed to win, and they went ahead early on when Bale and Ronaldo combined to set up James for the opener. Benzema had hit the post earlier on, and Varane went close a couple of times before Bale added a second with a well struck free kick which went in off the upright. Montañés and Arbilla tested Iker Casillas either side of half time, and soon afterwards the locals were left with ten men when Coentrao was sent off for a foul on Cañas. However the Catalans hardly troubled the home defence after that, and Nacho wrapped things up when he collected Arbeloa’s cross and fired an angled shot past Kiko Casilla with a quarter of an hour to go. Madrid move four points clear of Barcelona and Atlético pending their game on Sunday.