LA LIGA LIVE: REAL MADRID HOST ESPANYOL SEEKING TO CLOSE GAP AT THE TOP

FT: Real Madrid 3-1 Espanyol. Real get back to winning ways in convincing fashion. They are now six points behind Barcelona - albeit having played a game more - and in better shape ahead of next weekend's Clasico. Vinicus outstanding once again.

Pacheco parries away a Valverde strike.

Game, set, match! Nacho carries the ball deep into Espanyol's half then slips in Asensio, who has time to set himself before wrongfooting Pacheco.

Confirmation has come that the rogue booking was for Ceballos, not Nacho. So Nacho can play next week.

Kroos and Vinicius unimpressed at that.

Uruguayan youngster Rodriguez enters the fray, in place of Vinicius.

Carvajal is cautioned for kicking the ball away. It looks like Nacho was booked beforehand too, which would rule him out of the Clasico.

Ceballos gives away a needless foul on the Espanyol right, allowing them to send the big men up. Cabrera is one of them and wins a header in Real six-yard box, but can't keep it down.

The defender holds off Brathwaite and guides the ball back to his goalkeeper.

Vidal and Melamed with Espanyol's last role of the dice.

The sub will need to be subbed.

Rodrygo tees up Vinicius with a nice flick, but the long-range shot is comfortably saved.

Suarez and Puado on for Ruben and Gragera. The changes have left this game feeling disjointed.

Rodrygo takes the free kick and hits it well - so well that Pacheco is a spectator as the ball crashes back off the crossbar. Rodrygo got it up and over the wall but just not quite down enough.

First, Kroos and Tchouameni depart to be replaced by Ceballos and Rudiger.

Camavinga, who has improved as the game has gone on, wins a cheap free kick 25 yards out. Rodrygo fancies this.

Asensio is on for Modric, who has been understated but effective.

A loose ball falls for Kroos, who unleashes a left-foot shot which whistles narrowly over the bar. Great strike.

That is Gil's last action. Pierre-Gabriel is on in a straight swap.

Already on a booking, Gil does well to time his sliding tackle and stop Vinicius.