Espanyol – Real Madrid: Ancelotti’s men rated, Valverde missed the mark!

Travelling to Catalonia this Saturday to face Espanyol Barcelona, Real Madrid slipped up (1-0). Despite dominating the match, Carlo Ancelotti’s men lacked efficiency in front of goal. On one of the rare attacking moves from their opponents, the decisive blow came in the final moments of regulation time.

This marks Real Madrid’s third defeat of the season, a significant setback in the La Liga title race. After Atlético Madrid’s win brought them within a single point, Los Blancos needed a victory to maintain a four-point lead ahead of next weekend’s Madrid derby. Unfortunately, in a match where the refereeing was disastrous, as noted by Marca and media worldwide, Ancelotti’s side conceded a late goal and suffered a painful loss. There is still a long way to go in La Liga this season.

Real Madrid player ratings

Thibaut Courtois (5.5)

Largely untested in the first half, Courtois had a relatively quiet evening between the posts. While he made some important saves in the second half, the Belgian goalkeeper could do nothing to stop Espanyol’s goal. A tough blow.

Fran García (6)

As has been the case this season, Fran García stood out on the left flank. Much more involved in attack, the 25-year-old provided plenty of options for his teammates. His crosses brought danger into Espanyol’s box. Defensively, he was solid but struggled with a few misplaced passes.

Antonio Rüdiger (5)

A bitter evening for the German veteran. Once again tasked with leading the Madrid defence, Rüdiger—worn out by the relentless fixture schedule—was forced off with a muscle injury in the 15th minute. Just as he was settling into the match, his early exit raises concerns ahead of key upcoming fixtures.

Raúl Asensio (6)

Initially on the bench, the 21-year-old defender was called into action earlier than expected. Replacing Rüdiger, Asensio once again proved to be a reliable asset for Ancelotti. His pace helped him cover gaps and nullify threats—except for the crucial goal. Tough in duels, the young Madrid star did what was required.

Aurélien Tchouaméni (5)

A mixed performance from the French midfielder. Once again deployed as a makeshift centre-back, Tchouaméni had an up-and-down match. While solid at times, the former Monaco player also made some costly mistakes that, fortunately, did not lead to further goals. Ancelotti must stop sacrificing him in an unnatural role.

Lucas Vázquez (6)

An excellent display from the Spanish full-back. Rarely troubled defensively, Vázquez showcased his attacking qualities, making tireless runs down the right. His efforts created several dangerous opportunities. Overall, a strong showing.

Dani Ceballos (6)

A decent outing for the 28-year-old. With his vision and incisive passing, Ceballos troubled Espanyol’s midfield. Against teams that sit deep and refuse to play, finding space is a challenge. His departure coincided with Madrid conceding the late goal.

Federico Valverde (4)

A solid performance until the 85th minute. However, as the last defender during Espanyol’s counter-attack, Valverde misjudged his intervention. Instead of blocking the danger, he turned away and deflected the ball into Courtois’ path—leading to the only goal of the match. A bitter night for the Uruguayan midfielder.

Jude Bellingham (5)

Not his most dazzling performance. As always, Bellingham worked tirelessly, but he lacked his usual sharpness near the opposition box.

Rodrygo Goes (6.5)

In red-hot form in recent weeks, Rodrygo struggled to find the net. Reverting to the right wing with Vinícius back on the left, the 24-year-old pushed hard to influence the game. Of Madrid’s three forwards, he was the liveliest, but luck wasn’t on his side. A commendable effort nonetheless.

Vinícius Júnior (5.5)

Returning to La Liga action after serving a two-match suspension, the Brazilian winger tried to inject energy into Madrid’s attack. His dribbling created some chances, but he couldn’t find the breakthrough. Despite high expectations, he failed to provide the extra spark needed in the final third.

Kylian Mbappé (5.5)

The French striker wasn’t at fault, but he struggled against a deep-lying defence that offered him little space. Even so, he managed to create a few openings, only to be denied by Espanyol’s goalkeeper.