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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
1Barcelona14111242142834
2Real Madrid1393128111730
3Atletico MadridAtletico148512181329
4Villarreal137422521425
5Athletic Bilbao146532013723
6Osasuna146441922-322
7GironaGirona146352018221
8Mallorca146351312121
9Real BetisBetis145541616020
10Real Sociedad145361111018
11Celta Vigo145362224-218
12Sevilla145361318-518
13Rayo Vallecano134451314-116
14Leganes143561319-614
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves144191524-913
17Las PalmasLas Palmas143381825-712
18Valencia122461219-710
19Espanyol133191226-1410
20Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179


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