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Attendance: 67,658
Real Madrid logo
La Liga | Gameweek 5
Sep 22, 2018 at 7.45pm UK
 
Espanyol logo

1-0

Asensio (41')
FT(HT: 1-0)

Julen Lopetegui: 'Real Madrid were made to suffer by Espanyol'

Lopetegui: 'Madrid were made to suffer'
© Reuters
Julen Lopetegui hails Real Madrid's "great effort" to pick up all three points from their home meeting with Espanyol on Saturday evening.

Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui has talked up the importance of his side's 1-0 win over Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The European champions made it four wins from five matches thanks to Marco Asensio's strike late in the first half of Saturday evening's encounter.

Three days on from cruising past Roma at the same ground, Real struggled to find top gear and were nearly made to pay as Borja Iglesias hit the crossbar with his second-half attempt.

Lopetegui admits that his side were 'made to suffer' by Espanyol, which he believes is a key trait for any champion.

"The league has complex matches and this was one of them," he told reporters. "It's what the league has. We knew it. The most positive thing is that the team has taken the three points, has known how to suffer, you also have to do it to win a league.

"The main reading is that we have known how to suffer because we also have not been able to close it. Espanyol closed us down, but also knew how to attack.

"But what has hurt us the most is losing control. The team have made a great effort and has achieved three very important points."

Victory for Madrid lifts them to the top of the La Liga standings, two points in front of Barcelona ahead of the champions' game in hand at home to Girona on Sunday.

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Real Madrid manager Julen Lopetegui
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Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona12110140112933
2Real Madrid1173121111024
3Atletico MadridAtletico126511871123
4Villarreal116322019121
5Osasuna126331716121
6Athletic Bilbao125431812619
7Real BetisBetis125431210219
8Mallorca12534109118
9Rayo Vallecano114431210216
10Celta Vigo125161820-216
11Real Sociedad124351010015
12GironaGirona124351517-215
13Sevilla124351217-515
14AlavesAlaves124171419-513
15Leganes122551216-411
16Getafe12174810-210
17Espanyol123181122-1110
18Las PalmasLas Palmas122371321-89
19Real ValladolidValladolid12228924-158
20Valencia11146817-97


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