Football news - Marco Asensio secures Real Madrid triumph

Marco Asensio’s first half strike proved to be the difference as Real Madrid went top of La Liga with a narrow 1-0 win over Espanyol.

Julen Lopetegui rested Gareth Bale for the home match against the visitors from Catalonia, with summer signing Alvaro Odriozola handed a start at right back and Dani Ceballos stuck with in the centre of midfield.

Both teams struggled to get going, with goalscoring opportunities at a premium until Asensio opened the scoring four minutes before half time. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but the officials reviewed their decision using VAR and overturned it, rightfully awarding the 22-year-old the goal.

Espanyol pressed for an equaliser in the second half, striking the crossbar when Borja Iglesias robbed Sergio Ramos of the ball and lobbed Thibaut Courtois. But that was the closest they came as Real Madrid held on for three points to lift them above Barcelona who play Girona on Sunday night.

This was a game Real Madrid would have lost last season. How many times did we see Real Madrid drop points from games like this last season? The Santiago Bernabeu became a happy hunting ground for visiting teams as Zinedine Zidane’s side fell away before Halloween. Under Lopetegui, though, Real Madrid are more diverse team, and so while they weren’t at their best this evening they got the job done in the end. That’s a valuable quality.

Marco Asensio (Real Madrid): His goal proved to be the difference between the two sides, but Asensio was also the difference in terms of his overall creativity and invention. He was the standout performer for Real Madrid on a night where the capital side were well below their best. On another night, Asensio could have bagged a couple more. Lopetegui needs players like the 22-year-old to step up to fill the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo and so far he is doing that.

Real Madrid: Courtois 5, Odriozola 6, Varane 6, Ramos 5, Nacho 6, Casemiro 6, Ceballos 7, Modric 6, Isco 6, Benzema 5, Asensio 7. Subs - Vazquez 5, Llorente 5, Mariano 5.

Espanyol: Lopez 6, Lopez 5, Naldo 6, Hermoso 6, Vila 5, Roca 6, Darder 5, Granero 5, Piatti 7, Iglesias 7, Perez 5. Subs - Sanchez 5, Garcia 5, Baptistao 5.

5’ - JUST WIDE! First real chance of the match and it falls to Isco. The pass was cut back to the playmaker, but Isco puts the ball past the post when he should have found the net.

13’ - PIATTI... WIDE! That was a real opportunity for the away side. Real Madrid fell asleep at the back, giving Piatti the chance to shoot. But his effort flashes wide of the far post. Good chance.

42’ - GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.... IS IT? Asensio finds the far corner of the net with a low strike, but the officials are going to VAR for an offside call. He looked to be onside when the ball fell to him!

43’ - THE GOAL STANDS! Real Madrid 1-0 Espanyol. After a break in the game the officials have allowed Asensio's goal to stand. He was indeed onside! Great finish from the 22-year-old!

65’ - BAR! Wow! That was inches away from being an equaliser. Iglesias robbed Ramos of the ball and lobbed Courtois, who was off his line, but it comes off the bar!

74’ - RAMOOOOS... OVER! The Real Madrid centre back was up from defence (because Ramos), but his header is saved by Lopez, who showed great reflexes to push that over the bar.

The last time Espanyol kept a league clean sheet against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu was in 1978.

Marco Asensio scored his first goal in La Liga since February and his first home goal in La Liga since November 2017.