Real Madrid secured a convincing 2-0 victory against Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday at Santiago Bernabeu, with Kylian Mbappé and Éder Militão scoring spectacular long-range goals. The win maintained Madrid’s perfect start to the season with five wins in five rounds, moving them five points clear of both Espanyol and Barcelona.Militão opened the scoring in the 22nd minute with a powerful right-foot shot from outside the area that found the top corner, with goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic barely getting a touch despite a diving effort.Mbappé doubled Madrid’s lead in the 47th minute with another impressive strike from distance that nestled into the bottom corner, marking his seventh goal in six games this season.“When you are facing a defense set well inside its area, you have to try from long range,” coach Xabi Alonso said. “Militão’s goal was very good, and Kylian scored in transition. We are taking steps forward and continue to grow.”The match saw the return of England midfielder Jude Bellingham as a late substitute, making his first appearance since shoulder surgery on July 16. Eduardo Camavinga also made his comeback from an ankle injury.Espanyol, who entered the match undefeated and in third place after their best start in 30 years, struggled without suspended top scorer Pere Milla.Dmitrovic prevented further damage with consecutive saves against Mbappé in the 65th minute, while Vinícius Júnior hit the post for Madrid.Madrid defender Dani Carvajal addressed his recent Champions League red card incident following the match. “It won’t happen again,” Carvajal said, apologizing for head-butting Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli.In other La Liga action, Girona’s struggles continued as they suffered a 4-0 home defeat to promoted Levante, leaving them at the bottom of the standings with five consecutive losses.“We are the worst team in the league,” coach Míchel Sánchez said, “and the only way out of this is to keep working and improve.”Georges Mikautadze scored his first goal for Villarreal in their 2-1 victory over 10-man Osasuna, while Alexis Sánchez netted his first goal for Sevilla in their 2-1 win against Alaves.Valencia rebounded from their previous 6-0 loss to Barcelona by defeating 10-man Athletic Bilbao 2-0. Baptiste Santamaría and Hugo Duro scored after Athletic’s Daniel Vivián received a red card.Athletic Bilbao has now gone three matches without scoring, including a Champions League defeat to Arsenal, as they continue to miss injured Spain forward Nico Williams.Madrid played without right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is sidelined with a hamstring injury from the Marseille match, and suspended defender Dean Huijsen.Barcelona will host fifth-placed Getafe at their 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff on Sunday.
