Espanyol vs Real Madrid Live Score and Commentary, La Liga 2016-17

Zinedine Zidane has equalled the record set by Pep GUardiola's Barcelona six years ago with 16 consecutive wins . If they overcome Villarreal in midweek hey will set a new record!! That's all for today!
Hope you guys enjoyed this coverage. Make sure you join us for the midweek action as Barca play Atletico in clash of the titans!

Full Time: Espanyol 0-2 Real Madrid

90' Two minutes of added time as Madrid edge closer to history

86' Ramos' free-kick attempt straight at Lopez! One of the few chances he'll because once Bale and Ronaldo are back in the team he'll probably have to hold back his skills for the training ground!

84' Carvajal gets into the book for a late challenge on Duarte. He could have been sent off for dissent after he started to argue with the referee before Vasquez pulled him away!

83' Isco fouled after a tired challenge from an Epsanyol defender

79' Approaching the last 10 minutes of the game. It looks done and dusted and Zidane will equal the longest winning streak set in La Liga if his team don't do anything stupid in these last few minutes

75' SAVE FROM KIKO CASILLA! Kroos gives the ball away uncharacteristically in midfield and Baptistao finds Caicedo but Pepe sticks with his run and delays his shot for just enough time to rush it, which still needed a great save!

73' The good news for Espanyol is, it's not a cricket score like last season, the bad news is, it's still 3 points lost!

70' Sweeping move from Madrid, Carvajal found Vasquez on the overlapping run and he puts in a great cross for Benzema who gets ahead of his marker for a simple tap in! The defence went to sleep and that's probably game over!

BENZEMA SCORES!!! 2-0 !!!

67' Madrid at the other end almost score with Benzema but some brilliant interception play kept the scoreline at 1-0!

66' GREAT COUNTER ATTACKING MOVE FROM ESPANYOL! Perez finds Baptisitao and he took just a little too long to get the shot away but he was in a promising positon

Caicedo is on for Gerard Moreno

65' Felipe Caicedo is ready to come on! He is some physical presence and can be a handful in the box!

64 Marco Asensio brought down by Javi Lopez and another free-kick for Madrid! Proper Rugby tackle that!

60' Vasquez dinks a ball in and Benzema controls Asensio's set up on his chest turns and volleys an acrobatic effort from close range which Lopez saves with an equally acrobatic stop!

59' WHAT AN EFFORT FROM BENZEMA! WHAT A SAVE FROM LOPEZ!

55' Both sides struggling to get into a passing rhythm. The quality is slightly lacking

53' Getting a little niggly and physical in these opening stages of the 2nd half, as Diop is booked for a bad looking tackle against Vasquez

52' Espanyol claiming a foul in the box but after Pepe's strong but fair challenge

50' Madrid weren't at their fluid best in the first half but have slowly increased their influence over play, but Espanyol have started the brighter this half

48' The goal Espnayol conceded right on the cusp of half-time would have definitely hurt! Madrid should finish this game off when they have the advantage

We are back underway!!

Half Time: Espanyol 0-1 Real Madrid

Rodriguez squeezes past a couple of players and places the ball perfectly in the far corner from just outside the box! Brilliant finish from the Colombian! HE's BACK alright!

46' JAMES RODRIGUEZ SCORESSS!!!! 1-0 to MADRID!!

45' 3 minutes of time added on for extras and injuries

45' Espanyol ending the half the better, as Madrid are pinned in their own half!

42' SO CLOSE FOR ESPANYOL!!! Perez puts in a great cross and Baptistao's diving header just brushes past the post!! Kiko Casilla was sprawling towards his right but was always struggling to get to it had it been on target!

39' Benzema puts it in the back of the net from an inch perfect Marcelo cross but it's offside!

38' KROOS FROM RANGE! Wide from the German after getting into a good position around 28 yards out

34' BRILLAITN PLAY FROM MODRIC! He almost single-handedly dribbles past the entire defence twisting them inside out and eventually wins a corner which is dealt with by the home side

32' MADRID ALMOST CATCH ESPANYOL OUT! On the break, Asensio tries to play James through with a jab pass between the split defenders but there is not enough weight on it and the defenders close him out quickly enough to prevent a shot!

31' Now Carvajal is holding his knee! He's battling on though

29' Madrid's attacks a bit toothless so far. Their crosses not causing too much trouble for this organized Espanyol defence

28' Espanyol not giving Madrid's defenders a minute's peace with their pressing but Pepe and Ramos dealing with the danger well so far

23' Madrid's attacks so far have been mainly through crosses, not yet penetrating with fluent passing

22' There was applause in the 21st minute in show of respect for former Espanyol man Dani Jarque. He sadly passed away too young and was a close friend to Andres Iniesta

21' Hernan Perez goes into the book for a foul on Marcelo

20' Toni Kroos has come on for Casemiro, the Brazilian could not continue

16' Casemiro still struggling a bit and that is very worrying because he's vital to Madrid's attacking play as he provides the defensive security

14' Espanyol have made a much better start to this fixture than their history suggested which is encouraging for the manager

13' Free kick to Espanyol after a foul on Diop by Casemiro but it's the Brazilian who's on the floor injured

11' MADRID OFF THE HOOK! Baptistao holds off Pepe and makes room for himself with only the keeper to beat but his finish is poor as Kiko Casilla makes the save!

8' RAMOS HEADS WIDE! James Rodriguez picks him out from the corner and the Spaniard is usually prolific with his head from that range but not on this occasion

6' JUST WIDE FOR MADRID! Lucas Vasques tricks his way into the box and fizzes a ball towards the far post but Benzema just can't reach it in time!

4' Just to recap what's at stake for Madrid. Zidane with a win could equal Pep Guardiola's record of 16 consecutive La Liga wins, which is the best of any side in this league

3' Ramos has already been booked for a rash challenge on Baptistao!

2' Espanyol are of course Barcelona's traditional rivals so their beef is not with Madrid, which could be a reason for their poor record against the visitors