First half goals from defender Sergio Ramos and Brazilian Kaka were enough to put the hosts into the driving seat, with returnee from injury, Gonzalo Higuain adding a delightful third late on.
Los Blancos seemed buoyed from last week’s away day success at the Riazor and they immediately made their mark on proceedings in the fifth minute. A free kick from the right by Esteban Granero was delivered on-cue for Sergio Ramos to power in a header past the rooted Carlos Kameni, earning the Spanish full back his second La Liga goal of the campaign as he celebrated amid a cluster of team mates.
Espanyol appeared dejected following their sluggish start as the in-form Guti and Kaka, seemingly revelling in the limelight with the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo through suspension, pulled the strings effortlessly in a creative midfield engine room.
The home side’s persistent forward play was soon rewarded though with the all action Granero again being embroiled in the thick of it. His run and flighted cross met the head of Captain Raul, who shattered the post with his attempt only for the rebound to fall kindly into the path of Kaka whom stroked the ball home with ease from four yards (30).
Granero (above) was involved in two of Madrid's three goals.
Mauricio Pochettino’s men struggled to assert any real foothold in the match as Real Madrid looked calm and reassured throughout as the away side lacked any real bite in their attacking play.
In the games closing stages it was Real Madrid who looked to sew-up victory and indeed it was substitute Gonzalo Higuain (90) whom produced the games brightest move. The argentine combined with fellow substitute Rafael Van der Vaart to latch onto his cross field pass beautifully to turn an Espanyol defender exquisitely, enabling him to pit his wits one on one against the oncoming Kameni. As the goalkeeper moved out of his six-yard box Higuain drifted round him and slotted the ball home to wrap up three more crucial Madrid points in the quest to end Barcelona’s supremacy at the top of the table.
Didn't watch the game unfortunatly but Guti and Raul have brought Madrid back to life it seems. Good post mate :)
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