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Real Madrid player ratings vs Espanyol: Benzema runs riot

By Atharva Khadilkar

BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 27: Karim Benzema celebrates his goal with his teammates during the La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and Real Madrid CF at RCDE Stadium on January 27, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Sanchez Martinez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - JANUARY 27: Karim Benzema celebrates his goal with his teammates during the La Liga match between RCD Espanyol and Real Madrid CF at RCDE Stadium on January 27, 2019 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Carlos Sanchez Martinez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CORNELLA, SPAIN – JANUARY 27: Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Espanyol v Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium on January 27, 2019 in Cornella Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images)
CORNELLA, SPAIN – JANUARY 27: Thibaut Courtois of Real Madrid during the La Liga Santander match between Espanyol v Real Madrid at the RCDE Stadium on January 27, 2019 in Cornella Spain (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/Soccrates/Getty Images) /

Real Madrid did the double over Espanyol by beating them 4-2 at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday evening, in their La Liga matchday 21 meeting.

Real Madrid claimed a third victory on the trot by beating Espanyol 4-2 at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona. The Whites moved up to third with their convincing win to open up a three-point cushion over Sevilla, who had temporarily claimed the place earlier on the weekend. Madrid have now scored 10 times in their last three matches.

Luka Modric was allowed to gallop into the hosts’ box earlier in the match, but his shot was palmed away by Diego Lopez only into the path of Karim Benzema, who sent the Whites off to a flyer in the fourth minute. Sergio Ramos headed home off Luka Modric’s cross to put the visitors two to the good in the opening 15 minutes of proceedings.

Leo Baptistao’s smashing hit ensured that Espanyol halved the lead before the break, only for the Whites’ two goal cushion to have been reopened by a sublime finish by Benzema in first half stoppage time. Gareth Bale also made his injury return and scored magnificently on the 67th minute to make it 1-4 to Madrid.

Raphael Varane was shown a straight red card by the referee with about fifteen minutes to play, and soon after Roberto Rosales scored a beautiful volley to make it 4-2. That was it as Los Blancos claimed a win and ensured that it was a good day in the office versus the Barcelona based side.

Let us have a look at how the players fared in this match.

Goalkeeper- Thibaut Courtois- 7/10

Thibaut Courtois conceded two goals for a second match on the bounce, but in all fairness, there was nothing that the Belgium international could do about those expertly taken finishes. He made two very good saves to ensure that he did have a few moments to savour from his visit to Barcelona. But there was no clean sheet for him on Catalan soil yet again.

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