Madrid's lead vanishes after upset at Espanyol
Real Madrid suffered a dismal end to a humiliating week as it was stunned 2-1 by Espanyol, missing out on the chance to restore a three-point lead at the top of LaLiga.
Madrid was the victim of one of the greatest shocks in UEFA Champions League history in midweek as it was incredibly beaten 2-1 by Moldovan debutant Sheriff at Santiago Bernabeu.
And it now only leads LaLiga on goal difference after a limp performance at RCDE Stadium, where Espanyol took a 2-0 lead through goals from Raul de Tomas and Aleix Vidal.
Karim Benzema was in inspired form, and he gave Madrid hope in the 71st minute, yet the visitors were again left to reflect on a humbling despite their star forward's best efforts.
Save for a couple of tame shots from Benzema, Madrid struggled to create chances early on despite dominating possession, and it was punished against the run of play as De Tomas stole in at the near post to turn home Adrian Embarba's low right-wing cross.
Espanyol continued in the ascendancy without adding to their lead in the first half and were fortunate not to be pegged back four minutes into the second as Eder Militao's header drifted wide.
But Madrid's attacking threat remained largely conspicuous by its absence and Espanyol doubled its advantage when former Barcelona man Vidal was allowed to surge into open space from midfield, skip past Nacho and side-foot beyond Thibaut Courtois.
The hosts should have made it 3-0 as Madrid was caught cold on the counter, only for Sergi Darder to make a horrible mess of his finish with only Courtois to beat.
Benzema was then rightly denied by the offside flag but, after Darder stung Courtois' palms at the other end, the France international gave Madrid a chance with a superb individual effort, evading several challenges on the edge of the box before bending a pinpoint strike inside the right-hand post.
Benzema looked to have teed Eden Hazard up for a spectacular leveller, but the offside flag was again correctly raised as Espanyol held on to deal Madrid an early blow in the title race.
