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

Valverde smashes wildly over from long range, but suddenly it's all Real Madrid.

It's brilliant from Vinicius and Real are level! Vinicius picks up the ball on the left, cuts inside and outsprints three defenders to find half a yard - all the space he needs to fire a low shot into the far corner.

The home side's first corner comes to nothing, but they keep possession and fashion a difficult chance for Carvajal, who hacks a volley over from 16 yards.

This time Espanyol's makeshift left-back is targeted, as Rodrygo runs past him, and Cabrera is booked for pulling the Brazilian back.

Courtois is twice called into action, first saving Souza's header and then gathering the rebound after something of a goalmouth scramble.

Joselu peels over to the right and wins a foul at Camavinga's expense. A rough start for the makeshift left-back.

Vinicius carries the ball into the Espanyol box and tees up Camavinga, whose shot is straight at Pacheco.

Joselu now has 12 goals - only Lewandowksi has scored more.

The visitors are ahead! Ruben gets the wrong side of Camavinga, who is deceived by the flight of a long ball, and Ruben promptly crosses for Joselu to slam home with a lovely first-time finish.

Ruben goes on a mazy run, but runs out of team-mates.

Braithwaite has started on the left for Espanyol, who are in a 4-5-1 formation, roughly. Madrid lining up as expected, with Valverde on the of a 4-3-3.

Gil plays a great ball from the right-back position to set Braithwaite through. Militao gets across to make a key block, but something for the hosts to think about.

Following a moment of silence, the game begins.

In other news, a board of directors meeting has been called by Real Madrid tomorrow to discuss Barcelona being charged with corruption over payments to the former referees chief Jose Maria Enriquez Negreira.

The visitors are in pink, Madrid of course wearing white.

Real Madrid are three games without a win in all competitions.

A big day for these two.

Espanyol have lost each of their last nine road games versus Madrid, scoring in only one of them. It means Espanyol have gone 630 minutes since their last away goal against today's opposition.

A Madrid victory would close the gap to Barcelona to six points. Barca are in action tomorrow, in Bilbao versus Athletic, before the top two meet next weekend. Espanyol are 13th but just two points clear of the relegation zone, so need the points to help ensure their safety.

Espanyol's last victory at the Santiago Bernabeu came in 1996, when they triumphed 2-1. Jordi Lardin scored both of the visitors' goals - the second an excellent volley - while you may also recognise a certain Mauricio Pochettino making his presence felt in the Espanyol backline.