Real Madrid suffered a hard defeat against Espanyol that showed that Ancelotti has a serious problem in defense. The parrots undressed the white rear with excessive ease in both goals and the problem could be even greater with several clear occasions that the Catalans screwed up. This was the performance of the madridistas:
Courtois: He could do little in the two goals for Espanyol, where his defense left him totally sold out.
Lucas Vazquez: Discreet in attack, he suffered in defense. In the goal, Raúl de Tomás wins the race. He does not finish convincing on the right side, a demarcation in which Real Madrid has renewed him.
Militao: One of his grayer games of the season. He closed badly in the goal of Raúl de Tomás and was imprecise. At the end of the first half, his mistake could cost a goal. His best plays were in attack, because he touched the goal from a set piece.
Nacho: He returned to the center of the defense and was very badly placed in the goal of Raúl de Tomás. He also failed in the second goal, in which he came out to close Aleix Vidal and beat him very easily.
Praise: He played as a left back. Embarba portrayed him in the first half, beating him easily due to speed and putting the center that Raúl de Tomás took advantage of to score. In the second half it was intoned in attack.
Kroos: These games are his particular preseason, because he had been inactive for many months, and he is accusing him. Slow and with less impact on the game than he is used to, he ended up replaced.
Modric: He suffered a lot in defense in the first half, where Espanyol's midfield was far superior. Of his most discreet games of the season, he was substituted in the second half.
Camavinga: He played more advanced than in other games, somewhat heeled to the left. There he feels less comfortable than more backward. He tried many things but with little success. He was replaced by Rodrygo at half-time and left in pain from a heavy stomp from Embarba.
Valverde: Ancelotti insists on putting him on the right wing and many of his virtues are wasted there. When it appears in the middle, its natural position improves.
Vinicius: It began toned with a good pass to Benzema. From more to less, he ended up not finding his place and being replaced by Hazard in the final stretch. There are already four consecutive games in which he does not see the door.
Benzema: Unhinged in the first half, in which he barely got any balls. In the second half he put Real Madrid into the game with a real goal. A header from him could put the tie. Right now, he supports this Madrid.
Rodrygo: He gave amplitude to Real Madrid on the right wing, although he was very controlled by the Espanyol defense.
Jovic: He left good details and assisted Benzema in the only goal for Real Madrid.
Hazard: He made a great goal from Benzema's pass, but it was canceled due to the French forward's offside.