Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings

How Real Madrid won it

Real Madrid struck first through Jude Bellingham in the 9th minute, set up by Arda Güler. Espanyol levelled at 1-1 in the 30th minute through Álex Calatrava, set up by Javi Hernández. Carlos Espí made it 1-2 to Real Madrid in the 90th minute.

It was 1-1 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.

The referee, J. Sánchez Martínez, showed 6 yellow cards: 5 to Espanyol and 1 to Real Madrid.

Espanyol: J. González Álvarez, 4-4-2 · Real Madrid: José Mourinho, 4-2-3-1.

Moneyball's prediction against the result

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Why it went this way

On the day the expected goals were 2.36 for Espanyol and 0.93 for Real Madrid.

Espanyol scored about 1.4 fewer than their chances were worth: poor finishing, or a goalkeeper at his best.

Real Madrid made more of their chances than the xG suggests, by about 1.1 goals.

Espanyol created the better chances, 2.36 xG to 0.93, and still lost. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.

Espanyol had 3 shots on target, Real Madrid 8.

Espanyol's goalkeeper made 6 saves.

Real Madrid had 63% of the ball and turned it into the win.

Where the two sides stood before this match

Espanyol came into it with 8 La Liga matches played, scoring 1.4 and conceding 1.4 a match, with 1.41 expected goals for and 1.17 against, and had won 25% of their matches.

Real Madrid came into it with 7 La Liga matches played, scoring 2.6 and conceding 1.1 a match, with 2.41 expected goals for and 1.20 against, and had won 71% of their matches.

Espanyol vs Real Madrid: the match in numbers

Team statistics from Sportmonks.

Player ratings and man of the match

Man of the match: Arda Güler (Real Madrid), rated 8.1 by Sportmonks, with 1 assist.

Espanyol

• Álex Calatrava 7.3 1 goal
• Marko Dmitrovic 7.3
• Edu Expósito 7.0
• Javi Hernández 7.0 1 assist
• Roberto Fernández 6.9

Real Madrid

• Arda Güler 8.1 1 assist
• Jude Bellingham 7.8 1 goal
• Carlos Espí 7.5 1 goal
• Federico Valverde 7.4
• Kylian Mbappé 7.4

The lowest-rated starter was Tyrhys Dolan at 5.7. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.

What comes next

• Espanyol: Espanyol vs Atlético de Madrid Saturday 17 October 2026 · La Liga
• Real Madrid: Real Madrid vs Villarreal Saturday 10 October 2026 · La Liga

Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.

Questions about Espanyol vs Real Madrid

What was the score in Espanyol vs Real Madrid?

Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid (half-time 1-1), La Liga, Saturday 22 August 2026.

Who scored in Espanyol vs Real Madrid?

Jude Bellingham 9', Álex Calatrava 30', Carlos Espí 90'.

Did Moneyball predict Espanyol vs Real Madrid correctly?

Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.

Who was man of the match in Espanyol vs Real Madrid?

Arda Güler, rated 8.1 by Sportmonks.

Who refereed Espanyol vs Real Madrid?

J. Sánchez Martínez.