LaLiga leaders Real Madrid were stunned at lowly Espanyol on Saturday after losing 1-0 thanks to a late Carlos Romero strike.
The result means Real, on 49 points, are one point clear of Atlético Madrid, who beat Mallorca 2-0, ahead of next weekend’s derby at the Bernabeu.
Third-placed Barcelona, who play Alavés on Sunday, are on 42 points.
Vinícius Júnior appeared to have given Madrid the lead in the 21st minute after latching onto Kylian Mbappé‘s pass. However, the goal was disallowed after the Frenchman had fouled Espanyol’s Pol Lozano in the build-up.
The hosts kept Madrid at bay in the second half, with Lucas Vázquez, Rodrygo and Jude Bellingham all having efforts brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Joan García.
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The visitors were aggrieved when, on a breakaway attack, Romero fouled a running Mbappé from behind, but was only shown a yellow card as the Madrid players appealed for a VAR review.
“This foul is inexplicable, the decision they made, the referee, the VAR. The most important thing is to take care of the player and protect him. It was a very bad tackle that risked injury, which fortunately did not happen,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti said.
The Italian manager brought on Luka Modric, Brahim Díaz and Raúl Asencio, but they failed to conjure any magic and it was Romero who broke the deadlock in the 85th minute.
The defender latched onto Omar El Hilali‘s through-ball and fired home to lift Espanyol to 17th on 23 points, one place above the relegation zone.
“I think this gives us life, we were playing good matches, competing, we had to suffer … Our people give us an edge and at home we have to be strong, it’s going to be very difficult to take points away from us here,” Romero told DAZN.
