Gerard Moreno has scored a goal for Espanyol! Assist by Sergio García.
It was superb play from Garcia, who did well to pick out his team-mate, with Moreno making no mistake.
GOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLL!!!! MORENO WINS IT FOR MORENO! What a finish to this game! It’s the goal that Espanyol’s second-half display deserves as - exposed by Ramos’ absence at the back - Madrid’s defence leave Moreno unmarked on the edge of their box. Garcia picks him out with a brilliant cross, and Espanyol’s leading scorer keeps his cool to claim a famous victory.
90' +2
We’re into the second minute of three added on in Barcelona. Ramos is playing as an auxiliary striker now, but he can only concede a free-kick for a clattering challenge on Duarte.
90' +1
CLOSE! Superb defending from Navarro, who stays alert to poke Asensio’s low cross out of play, with Ramos lingering.
90'
Garcia is set away on the counter, but has to take a quick shot on from distance. Navas was not to be embarrassed, though.
89'
Borja Mayoral enters the game and replaces M. Kovačić.
A third and final change for Madrid sees Mateo Kovacic replaced by Borja Mayoral.
88'
CHANCE! Espanyol are surging forward now, and they work the ball into Moreno. He stands up Ramos, using Madrid’s captain as a shield to block Navas’ view as he curls an effort towards the far post. The strike, though, didn’t have enough bend on it to find the net.
86'
Terrific defending from Ramos, who remains composed as he gets across to cover and prevent Moreno getting on the end of Baptistao’s throughball.
84'
Granero delivers a decent cross from the left flank, but Madrid’s defence was well-organised, and the visitors clear the danger.
81'
Aarón Martín gets yellow.
Dani Ceballos enters the game and replaces G. Bale.
Another substitution - this time for Madrid. Dani Ceballos is on, with Gareth Bale the man taken off. It has been a tough evening for the Wales international, who has struggled in an unfamiliar role up front.
Martin becomes the first Espanyol player to go into the referee's book.
80'
An attacking change now from Espanyol’s boss. Pablo Piatti is off, with Leo Baptistao - a former Atletico Madrid striker - coming on.
Minute
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79'
Léo Baptistão enters the game and replaces P. Piatti.
Another chance for Espanyol, as Garcia unleashes a powerful strike on the half-volley. His dipping effort beats Navas, but just beats the upright as well.
78'
CLOSE! Moreno rises highest to latch onto a cross from the right and power a header down towards the right-hand post. Navas, however, gets down low to make the stop.
77'
Another let-off for Madrid, as Darder latches onto a loose ball in the visitors’ area. He takes a tumble following a clumsy challenge from Ramos, but the linesman flags for offside, rather than the penalty, even though the diminutive midfielder was clearly onside when the ball was played through.
75'
Moreno makes a good run out wide, taking a defender with him, before turning the ball back into Garcia. His effort does not trouble Navas, though.
73'
Benzema’s presence has certainly given Madrid more of a focus up front, but still, they are struggling to string any meaningful moves together. It has been a flat display from Zidane’s side so far, and Espanyol would be deserving of a point if it stays this way…
70'
Granero enters the game and replaces Víctor Sánchez.
Espanyol have also made their first alteration. Former Madrid man Esteban Granero is introduced to add some spark and creativity to the hosts’ midfield, replacing Victor Sanchez.
69'
K. Benzema enters the game and replaces Isco.
Isco is the man to make way, following what was a rather tepid display. Karim Benzema comes on, and that means Gareth Bale will now have a strike-partner.
68'
The ball falls to Llorente 20 yards out, but he blazes his strike way over the bar. The pause in play will allow Madrid to make their first change...
67'
CHANCE! Nacho’s low cross is deflected straight into Bale’s path, but he snaps at his first-time shot, which is blocked wide. The Welshman gets another go from the following corner, only to turn his effort straight at Diego Lopez.
65'
After a strong start to the second half, Espanyol have faded now, while Madrid lack any clinical edge to their play. That could change now, though, as Benzema has finished his warm up and is now set to come on.
63'
Some half-hearted appeals for a penalty from Espanyol, as Moreno goes down under pressure from Ramos and Nacho, but the referee rightly dismisses the claims. Moments clear, Bale finds some space on the edge of Espanyol’s area, but his effort is a poor one.
61'
Zidane looks to be prepping his first change, with Benzema warming up down on the touchline.
59'
Isco has now been pushed up alongside Bale to offer the Wales forward some more support, and that tactic seems to have worked in pressing Espanyol back. Indeed, Bale and Isco link up on the counter to tee up Kovacic, but his long-range strike is well-saved by Diego Lopez.
56'
Whatever Quique Sanchez Flores said to his side at half-time, it seems to have worked. Moreno again tries his luck, with a volley from 10 yards out, but Navas had read the situation well.
54'
Espanyol have lost their last nine games in LaLiga against Madrid, but apart from that effort from Hakami, the hosts have controlled the second-half so far. Zidane's side could perhaps do with an injection of fresh legs from the bench.
52'
That’s a great run from Hakimi who, after cutting out a stray pass, barges down the right wing before letting rip with a powerful strike that forces Diego Lopez into a save.
49'
OFF THE BAR! Espanyol continue their attack on Madrid’s goal, as Duarte wins a towering header from a corner on the right. Navas is beaten, but the ball clips off the top of the woodwork.
48'
Garcia gets his first opportunity of the game as he drives a venomous half-volley towards the target from an acute angle. Navas, however, was on hand to make the save.
46'
Espanyol start on the front foot, with Moreno picking up possession 10 yards out following good pressing from his team-mates. The striker, however, was offside.
44'
Brilliant from Asensio, who flicks an inspired pass into Isco’s path. He drives into the area before unleashing a low strike, but it lacks any power, and Diego Lopez makes an easy save.
42'
Well, it wasn’t Bale who took it, but Isco. The former Malaga man got his effort over the wall, but failed to generate enough dip on the strike to test Diego Lopez.
41'
Shouts for a penalty now from Bale, who was convinced that his strike was blocked by the arm of Victor Sanchez. It certainly stuck the midfielder’s arm, but it would have been harsh. Nevertheless, the Welshman will get another opportunity now, as he stands over a free-kick 25 yards out…
40'
For all their domination, Madrid have certainly caused their own problems with some sloppy passing out from the back at times. This time, though, the visitors get it out quickly - with Vazquez slipping a throughball into Hakimi's path, who wins a corner.
39'
Isco looks to set Madrid away on a counter-attack, only to be cynically scythed down by Darder. It was a necessary foul, or the Spain playmaker was through.
38'
A booking now for Bale, who lunged in late on Darder, right in front of the referee. Espanyol spread the play from the resulting free-kick, with Martin doing well to win a corner down the left. It comes to nothing, though.
37'
G. Bale gets yellow.
STAT - García, who hasn't seen much of the ball going forward as of yet, is the only current Espanyol player to have scored for the Catalonians in LaLiga against Madrid.
35'
Llorente - desperate to impress this evening - tries his luck from the edge of the box, but drags his first-time shot well wide.
32'
Espanyol have certainly come into this game in recent minutes, and now seem to have the confidence to step out of their defensive shell when the opportunity arises. That is forcing Madrid into some rushed decisions, as evidenced by a poor pass from Ramos, who hits the ball straight out for a goal kick.
30'
No goal! Espanyol keep the ball alive after the set-piece is cleared - Piatti seeing a shot blocked after latching onto David Lopez’s cross. Carlos Sanchez hammers in the rebound, which looked set to test Navas at least. Moreno, however, takes matters into his own hands by bringing the ball down and slotting it home, only for the offside flag to rule the goal out.
28'
Good play from Piatti, who makes a driving run in-behind Madrid’s defence. He is blatantly fouled by Hakimi, but the referee fails to give it. Espanyol’s winger is swiftly back on his feet, before being bundled over by Varane, and a free-kick is awarded.
26'
CHANCE! What an opportunity for Espanyol! Complacent play from Varane sees Carlos Sanchez block his bass, with the rebound falling to Moreno. His low strike is clearly tipped just wide by Navas, but the officials fail to award the corner. That’s a let-off for Madrid!
25'
Ronaldo has scored eight goals and provided two assists in his last two league visits to RCDE Stadium. Madrid are having to do without the Portuguese superstar this evening, and Zidane will be looking to the fringe players to grasp their opportunity.
22'
Espanyol’s midfield duo of Carlos Sanchez and Victor Sanchez are sitting too deep at the moment, and that is enabling Isco and Asensio to slot in and pick up passes out wide. The hosts need to try and press up just a bit further, to give Piatti, Moreno and Garcia the chance to do some damage.
20'
Asensio looks to click things up a gear against his former club, but he is well-marshalled by Espanyol’s defence. Nacho eventually concedes possession, before bundling into Moreno.
18'
Madrid have scored at least three goals in all of their last four LaLiga games, and if not for Diego Lopez, they could already have had two. Espanyol have offered little going forward, although Piatti has just got on the end of a cross from Martin, only to fire over.
15'
Espanyol’s goalkeeper is beaten from the resulting corner, as Ramos latches onto the cross, but his header drifts wide.
14'
SAVE! Isco finds space down the right and punts in a low cross. Martin gets to it, but can only deflect it goalwards, forcing Diego Lopez into an instinctive stop.
13'
Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric have also been rested all together for this evening’s clash. It goes some way to show the strength in depth Zidane has at his disposal, and it indicates just how poor Los Blancos were earlier in the season that they only sit third.
10'
Given Madrid’s relatively inexperienced line-up, it seems Espanyol are far too willing to sit deep and let the visitors come onto them. Some neat play from Isco creates space for Asensio, who weaves his way into the area, but is marshalled out of play before he can reach the goal.
8'
CHANCE! Bale gets his first opportunity of the game. The former Tottenham man isn’t used to playing as a lone striker, but he made a great run to the near post to get on the end of Hakimi’s cross. His header is on target, but Diego Lopez reacts sharply to keep it out.
6'
It’s not often that Madrid line-up in this system, and the visitors seem to be just finding their feet at the moment, as Ramos is called into action to get Llorente out of trouble, who was under pressure from Espanyol's forward line, out of trouble.
4'
STAT - Espanyol are winless in their last 20 games against Madrid, failing to score in 14 of them.
2'
Nacho is unhappy here, after he is bundled into by Darder. The Madrid full-back was going nowhere, and it was a needless foul from Espanyol’s midfielder, though there was no need for Nacho’s reaction.
1'
KICK-OFF! Madrid, donning their black away strip, get proceedings underway.
Hello and welcome to LIVE coverage of Real Madrid's LaLiga clash with Espanyol. Stick right here for all the action as it happens from the RCDE Stadium!
Espanyol - who are winless in their four home games in 2018 - sit in 15th, having drawn their last four league fixtures. There is a healthy eight-point gap between themselves and 17th-placed Levante, however, and relegation shouldn't be an issue for Quique Sanchez Flores.
Madrid, meanwhile, are now in fine form, having won their last five games across all competitions, including a 4-0 thumping of Deportivo Alaves last time out. The LaLiga champions are now up to third place, and a victory this evening would see them move within four points of local rivals Atletico Madrid.
There’s no Cristiano Ronaldo for this one, with Zinedine Zidane having rested the in-form forward. Here’s the team news in full…
Espanyol (4-4-2): Diego Lopez; Navarro, David Lopez, Duarte, Martin; Darder, Carlos Sanchez, Victor Sanchez, Piatti; Garcia, Moreno.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Navas; Hakimi, Ramos, Varane, Nacho; Llorente, Kovacic; Vazquez, Isco, Asensio; Bale.
Real Madrid substitutes: Carvajal, Benzema, Casilla, Hernandez, Mayoral, Ceballos, Rodriguez.
Ronaldo’s absence means that Gareth Bale starts up top for Madrid, and the onus will be on Isco and Marco Asensio to supply the Welshman, while Marcos Llorente is handed a rare start in midfield. At the back, Achraf Hakimi makes just his sixth LaLiga start.
The young full-back will be up against Pablo Piatti and Espanyol’s top-scorer Gerard Moreno down Madrid’s right flank. Former Los Blancos goalkeeper Diego Lopez starts for the hosts, with Esteban Granero among the substitutes.
No stoppage time at the end of the first half, as the side’s go in at the interval with nothing separating them.
While Espanyol have certainly lacked ambition going forward, Madrid’s performance has been relatively flat. The visitors lack any focal point up top, with Bale, Isco and Asensio all interchanging at will, and it seems to be hampering Zidane’s side.
Indeed, although the hosts have been poor, they have perhaps had the best chances - Moreno seeing a shot well-saved by Navas before he had a goal ruled out for offside.
ZIdane has Karim Benzema at his disposal on the bench, and if it remains goalless for much longer, you wouldn’t be surprised to see the France striker come on at some stage.
FULL TIME! Espanyol 1 Real Madrid 0!
Well, with what was the last kick of the game, Moreno has secured a famous, famous win for Espanyol - their first victory over Madrid since 2007, as Zidane's decision to rest some of his star players backfired.
It’s a first home win of 2018 for Espanyol, and the goal was nothing less than they deserved. Madrid were poor throughout, and the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo was clearly felt.
It was Espanyol’s number seven - Moreno - who would have the final say, as his exquisite finish won the points, doing his outside chances of claiming a place in Spain’s World Cup squad no harm at all.
Well, that’s all from me for now. Until next time, thank you and goodbye!
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