Espanyol probe for an instant response.

But unmarked Roberto Fernandez, who looked ready to pounce with a header, has been flagged offside.

Real Madrid have avoided defeat in their last 25 La Liga matches when scoring first, since a 3-4 defeat by Barcelona in May 2025.

Espanyol, meanwhile, have failed to win any of their last nine matches when conceding first.

Alvaro Arbeloa will turn to his bench early in the second half.

Thiago Pitarch and Brahim Diaz will make way as 18-year-old Argentine Franco Mastantuono and Gonzalo Garcia come in as Real Madrid search for some inspiration.

Trent Alexander-Arnold gets an early yellow card in the second half for a challenge on Tyrhys Dolan.

It's a studs-on stamp on his fellow Englishman but he makes contact with the ball before Dolan and VAR is not interested in intervening.

Alvaro Arbeloa would have expected a response from his Real Madrid players after a poor first half.

But if the first minutes of this second half is anything to go by, it's Espanyol who look the hungrier here.

We are back under way for the second half!

A reminder that Real Madrid need a win here to deny Barcelona from being La Liga champions tonight.

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If the result stays this way, Real Madrid will sit 13 points behind Barcelona with just four games - and only 12 points - left to play for in the La Liga season.

It will mean Barca would be confirmed as champions at full-time, if Alvaro Arbeloa's side cannot find a winner against Espanyol here.

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Real Madrid will be desperate to find a winner here to avoid giving bitter rivals Barcelona a guard of honour in next week’s El Clasico at Camp Nou.

But they’ve been left frustrated so far by a resilient Espanyol side, who have defended well and posed a threat on the break.

Real Madrid have had 67% possession but have only had one shot on target, generating an expected goals (xG) of 0.29.

Espanyol, meanwhile, have an xG of 0.71 with the hosts also having a shot on target from their seven attempts.

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All square at the break between Real Madrid and Espanyol.

But it will be Barcelona who will be the happier side as they are now just 45 minutes away from clinching the title if this result holds!

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Espanyol finish the first-half with a flourish and Real Madrid need Andrii Lunin to keep the score level.

The goalkeeper makes a brilliant reflex save to keep out Leandro Cabrera's close-range header from a corner. That'll be the last action of the first half.

Edu Exposito fails to keep up with the pace of Thiago Pitarch and can only stop him by unfair means.

He is the second Espanyol player to see a yellow card.

Three minutes added on!

Vinicius Junior is brought down by Manchester-born Tyrhys Dolan and Trent Alexander-Arnold's low free-kick from the right is headed away but only as far as Brahim Diaz.

The Real Madrid attacker pulls the trigger from inside the box but it flies inches over the goal.

The visitors want a corner but replays suggest the Espanyol goalkeeper did not get a touch despite an acrobatic dive.

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Substitute Fran Garcia floats in a perfect cross towards Federico Valverde.

But the Real Madrid captain can only direct his header straight at Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

It is the game's first shot on target coming in the 40th minute!

Vinicius Junior continues to draw fouls from Espanyol player - this time from Urko Gonzalez de Zarate.

But the defensive midfielder escapes referee's punishment for now.

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Omar El Hilali gets on the way of Vinicius Junior to stop the Real Madrid attacker from racing into the box and concedes a free-kick. The Espanyol defender needs to be careful here!

Trent Alexander-Arnold with a much better delivery this time from the resulting set-piece but it goes just beyond the reach of Antonio Rudiger in front of the goal.

Another free-kick for Real Madrid in a promising position.

Trent Alexander-Arnold plays it in but Espanyol captain Leandro Cabrera heads it away from danger.

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Half an hour played and it's still goalless at RCDE Stadium.

The longer it remains goalless, Real Madrid's frustration will only grow.