Espanyol 0-2 Real Madrid Player Ratings: Vinicius Jr 9.0/10 Brace Keeps Real Madrid's Title Dream Alive With Clinical Espanyol Demolition

Real Madrid arrived in Barcelona knowing that anything other than victory would end their La Liga season in the most hollow of fashions, and for 54 goalless minutes, that prospect felt entirely possible. Espanyol flew out of the blocks, creating genuine chances and testing Lunin repeatedly, while a disjointed Real Madrid side struggled to find their rhythm against a winless opponent that had absolutely nothing to lose.

Then Vinicius Jr decided the evening was his. The Brazilian's clinical 55th-minute finish opened the floodgates, and Bellingham's brilliant back-heeled assist set up an even more emphatic second just 11 minutes later, a combination of individual brilliance that silenced any lingering Espanyol threat and gave Madrid the commanding lead their title survival demanded.

The result means Barcelona cannot clinch the title next weekend without a slip-up from Arbeloa's side, a small but significant lifeline that Vinicius, more than anyone, has kept alive. Here are Sportsdunia's Espanyol vs Real Madrid player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• Vinicius was simply unplayable in the second half, and his 9.0/10 rating reflected two goals of the highest quality.
• Bellingham's backheel assist for the second goal was a moment of genuine brilliance that turned a nervous win into a commanding one.
• Espanyol were spirited and unlucky in the first half, but were ultimately undone by the class of Madrid's attacking duo.

Espanyol Player Ratings vs Real Madrid

Here are the Espanyol player ratings vs Real Madrid.

Goalkeeper

Marko Dmitrovic - 6.0: He conceded two goals, but it's hard to fault him for either. Vinicius Junior was just too good on the day. Dmitrovic made a couple of decent saves inside the box. We noticed he was quick off his line. However, he couldn't prevent the inevitable defeat. A standard performance in a tough match.

Defenders

Fernando Calero - 6.0: Calero was busy all evening. He made an impressive seven clearances. His passing was also very accurate. From our perspective, he did his best to hold the line. But he was part of a defence that ultimately broke. He was also dribbled past a couple of times, which brought his rating down.

Ludovic Taillandier - 6.0: The captain had a mixed game. He had a header saved, which showed his threat on set pieces. Defensively, he made six clearances and an interception. However, what stood out to us was his struggle against Madrid's pace. He lost a few key duels. A fighting performance, but not enough.

Carlos Romero - 6.5: We were quite impressed with Romero's attacking intent. He had four shots and created two chances for his teammates. His passing was neat and tidy. He seemed to be one of Espanyol's more positive players. Defensively, he was sound enough, but the team still conceded twice.

Omar El Hilali - 5.5: A very difficult night for the full-back. He was extremely lucky to avoid a red card in the first half. The VAR check saved him. He struggled to contain the Madrid attackers. He lost more duels than he won. It was a learning experience for him against top-quality opposition.

Midfielders

Rubén Sánchez - 6.0: He showed flashes of what he can do. Sánchez created two key passes which was good. However, his final product was lacking. His crossing wasn't great and he lost possession many times. He was substituted just after the hour mark.

Urko González de Zárate - 6.0: A battling performance in the heart of midfield. He won a decent number of duels and drew fouls. His passing was tidy, keeping things simple. He picked up a yellow card for his troubles. A solid, if unspectacular, outing for him.

Edu Expósito - 6.5: Expósito was one of Espanyol's brighter sparks in midfield. He created a big chance and had a shot on target. He was always looking to make things happen. His energy was commendable. He did pick up a booking before being substituted. We felt he was taken off a bit early.

Ramón Terrats - 5.5: He was very active in trying to get a goal. Terrats took four shots, but none troubled the keeper. From our perspective, he lacked composure in the final third. He worked hard but didn't have much impact. A frustrating evening for the midfielder.

Tyrhys Dolan - 7.0: Dolan was arguably Espanyol's best player. He was a creative force, making three key passes. He worked tirelessly off the ball, making tackles and recovering possession. We noticed his constant movement caused problems. A very positive performance in a losing side.

Forwards

Roberto Fernández - 6.0: A tough night for the lone striker. He was physically dominant, winning most of his aerial and ground duels. However, his finishing let him down. He missed a couple of half-chances. He needed better service but also should have done more with what he got.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 5.5: Antoniu Roca, Charles Pickel, and the other subs came on when the game was slipping away. They brought fresh legs but couldn't change the outcome. Real Madrid was in control by the time they were introduced. No one made a significant impact on the game.

Manager

J. González Álvarez - 5.5: His team started with good energy and structure. They frustrated Madrid in the first half. However, he had no answer for Vinicius Jr in the second half. His substitutions felt a bit reactive. It was a tough tactical battle that he ultimately lost.

Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Espanyol

Check out the Real Madrid player ratings vs Espanyol.

Goalkeeper

Andriy Lunin - 7.5: A very composed performance from the keeper. He claimed a clean sheet with three saves. What stood out to us was his distribution. He had a 90% pass accuracy and started attacks from the back. He commanded his area with confidence. An excellent day at the office.

Defenders

Trent Alexander-Arnold - 6.5: A typical performance from the right-back. He was a creative outlet, delivering dangerous crosses and passes. However, he was caught out defensively a few times. He also received a yellow card. His attacking contribution was valuable, but his defending remains a concern.

Antonio Rüdiger - 7.0: Solid as a rock at the back. Rüdiger was commanding and no-nonsense. His passing was crisp and he dealt with any threats that came his way. He made four important clearances. You always feel safer with him in the backline. A quiet but very effective game.

Dean Huijsen - 7.5: We were very impressed with this young defender. He was so comfortable on the ball, with 100 touches and 92% pass accuracy. He wasn't afraid to play long passes to start attacks. Defensively, he made seven clearances and was strong in the air. A very mature performance that promises a great future.

Ferland Mendy - N/A: His game was cut short very early. He only played 14 minutes before being substituted. It's impossible to give him a rating. We hope the injury isn't serious.

Midfielders

Aurélien Tchouaméni - 8.0: A masterclass in defensive midfield play. He was everywhere. Tchouaméni made five interceptions and three successful tackles. He controlled the tempo of the game with his intelligent passing. He completely dominated the midfield battle. An outstanding performance.

Jude Bellingham - 7.5: Another classy display from the Englishman. He bagged an assist for one of the goals. His link-up play was excellent, and he drove forward with purpose. He worked hard defensively too, recovering the ball seven times. He makes the game look so easy sometimes.

Federico Valverde - 7.0: The captain led by example with his work rate. He was a bundle of energy in the midfield. His passing was almost perfect. While he wasn't as involved in the final third, his industry was crucial. A reliable and selfless performance.

Brahim Díaz - 5.5: A disappointing outing for Brahim. He struggled to get into the game. He lost the ball a few times and picked up a yellow card. He was substituted early in the second half. It just wasn't his day.

Thiago Pitarch - 6.0: He had a decent first half. His passing was accurate and he kept the ball moving. He didn't offer much of a threat going forward, though. He was replaced shortly after halftime. A solid but unspectacular performance from the midfielder.

Forwards

Vinicius Junior - 9.0: Simply sensational. This was his game. He scored two brilliant goals to win the match for his team. He was a constant nightmare for the Espanyol defence, drawing eight fouls. Every time he got the ball, you felt something would happen. A true Man of the Match performance and our highest rated player.

Substitutes

Substitutes - 6.5: Fran Garcia came on early and had a solid game at left-back. Gonzalo Garcia Torres was energetic but got booked. The other subs helped see the game out professionally. A good contribution from the bench overall.

Manager

Á. Arbeloa Coca - 7.5: He set his team up perfectly. They were patient in the first half and ruthless in the second. His decision to give Vinicius a free role paid off handsomely. The substitutions were managed well. A very professional away win for his side.

Man of the Match

Vinicius Junior was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

Omar El Hilali was the worst performer.