Espanyol 0 - Real Madrid 1

Espanyol: Kameni; Zabaleta, Jarque, Torrejón, Chica; Rufete (Pandiani 56'), Moisés Hurtado, De la Peña, Moha (Corominas 75'); Luis García, Tamudo. 4-4-2.
Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Roberto Carlos; Guti, Emerson; Robinho (Mejía 55'), Raúl, Reyes (Diarra 70'); Van Nistelrooy (Raúl Bravo 85'). 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Espanyol: No change / Madrid: Robinho, Reyes for Beckham, Ronaldo.

Goals:
0-1. 49. Van Nistelrooy. Picked up Guti pass and beat Kameni with shot on turn.

Real Madrid moved up to within a point of Barcelona (who were not in action in the league this weekend) after beating Espanyol 0-1 on Sunday evening. Both keepers were in action early on without too many problems, Luis García went close a couple of times, and Torrejón did well to clear from Van Nistelrooy as he lined up to shoot. But Van Nistelrooy got what was to prove the winner a few minutes after the restart after picking up Guti's pass and beating Kameni with a shot on the turn.

Cannavaro was sent off soon afterwards for a second bookable offence, referee Pérez Lasa incorrectly ruling that the new "Balon de Oro" had handled when the ball hit him in the face, and Capello immediately brought on Mejía as cover.

Kameni did well to keep out Guti and Reyes, and Raúl fired another shot over the top. But otherwise all the chances were at the other end, Salgado blocking an effort from Corominas and Casillas saving from Tamudo and Pandiani. There was no way through though, and the Catalans fell to their first defeat in eleven games.