Real slip to ‘worst defeat of the season’

Real Madrid slipped to their “worst defeat of the season”, according to coach Carlo Ancelotti, following up a shock Champions League reverse with their first Liga loss of the season, going down 2-1 at Espanyol on Sunday 

Real, who lost to Moldovan minnows Sheriff Tiraspol on Tuesday, blew a chance to pull ahead of Atletico Madrid, who beat crisis-hit Barcelona 2-0 on Saturday to draw level with their city rivals on 17 points.

“There is not much to say,” admitted a crestfallen Ancelotti after a defeat that leaves Real without a win in three games after they were held to a goalless draw by Villarreal in their previous league match.

“We did not manage to keep our calm, to put in place what we had planned. The team was not well set-up, with or without the ball. 

“You have to be honest. It’s the worst game of our season.”

Espanyol took the lead on 17 minutes at the RCDE Stadium in Catalonia when Raul de Tomas found the net. 

Aleix Vidal scored a sparkling second goal after nutmegging Nacho and smashing the ball past Real keeper Thibaut Courtois 15 minutes into the second half.

Karim Benzema had the ball in the net early in the second half but the goal was ruled out for Luka Jovic’s offside.

Just as Espanyol appeared to be about to extend their advantage again, Benzema pulled a goal back on 71 minutes, firing into the bottom corner after the French international collected a pass from Jovic for his ninth league goal in eight games this season.

Espanyol had won just once in seven games this season but they hung on grimly in five minutes of added time to take all three points.

“We now need to use the international break to think about why this team’s attitude has changed in the space of a week,” said Ancelotti.

“But this defeat is no accident. We didn’t play well.”