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Real Madrid got back to winning ways in LaLiga with a thrilling comeback against a combative Espanyol side. The visitors surprised everyone by taking the lead, but the introduction of Vinícius in the second half turned the tide, leading to a resounding victory that reaffirms Madrid's position at the top of the table. This performance, filled with moments of brilliance and a much more fluid style of play, marked a turning point after a somewhat hesitant start to the season for Los Blancos. 

Carlo Ancelotti opted for a 4-2-3-1 formation, fielding Courtois in goal; Carvajal, Tchouaméni, Militao and Fran García in defence; Modric and Valverde as the double pivot, with Bellingham playing as the attacking midfielder; and the attacking trio formed by Arda Güler, Rodrygo and Mbappé. Espanyol, on the other hand, initially set up with a 5-3-2 formation, which shifted to a 4-4-2 in the first half, with Joan García in goal; Tejero, El Hilali, Kumbulla, Cabrera and Carlos Romero in the defensive line; Jofre, Kral and Pol Lozano in midfield; and Puado and Cheddira leading the attack. 

First Half: Domination without Reward, but with a More Recognisable Madrid 

Unlike in previous matches, Madrid displayed a more recognisable style of play from the start, with Valverde and Modric dictating the tempo in midfield. In the 11th minute, Güler set up Mbappé, who was unable to beat Joan García in the one-on-one. Shortly after, Militão headed a Modric corner, but the ball went narrowly wide. Espanyol, well organised at the back, waited for their chance on the counter-attack. In the 21st minute, Rodrygo played Mbappé through in the box, but the Frenchman was again denied by Joan García. A minute later, Modric played a through ball for Mbappé, but the Espanyol goalkeeper once again saved his team. 

Madrid continued to search for the opening goal, but their attacks lacked clarity as the minutes passed. Espanyol, on the other hand, grew in confidence and threatened Courtois' goal. Lozano was booked in the 10th minute for a foul, and Mbappé was shown a yellow card in the 32nd minute for protesting a referee's decision. In the 45th minute, Puado tried to surprise Courtois with a long-range shot, but the ball went wide.  Further controversy unfolded just before halftime when Cabrera appeared to handle the ball in the box, but neither the referee nor VAR deemed it a penalty. 

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Second Half: Courtois' Own Goal and Madrid's Emphatic Response 

The second half began with Espanyol looking more threatening. In the 47th minute, a shot from Jofre grazed the crossbar after deflecting off Militão. Shortly after, Carlos Romero tried his luck from outside the box, but his shot went just wide of the post. In the 54th minute, disaster struck for Madrid. A cross from Jofre from the left hit Courtois' heel and ended up in the back of the net. 

Madrid's reaction was swift and emphatic. Ancelotti brought on Vinícius for Güler in the 55th minute, and the Brazilian injected a new energy into the Madrid attack. Just four minutes after Espanyol's goal, Valverde shot from outside the box, the ball was parried by Joan García, and Bellingham cleverly recovered the ball and crossed low. Carvajal, alert at the far post, tapped the ball into the net to equalise in the 58th minute. 

Madrid, with Vinícius as the catalyst, relentlessly pressed forward. In the 75th minute, the Brazilian assisted Rodrygo with an exquisite pass with the outside of his right foot, and the forward made no mistake against Joan García. Three minutes later, Mbappé played a long ball to Vinícius, who outpaced the Espanyol defence and finished coolly to make it 3-1. Valverde was shown a yellow card for a foul in the 61st minute, and Joan García was booked in the 74th for time-wasting. 

In the 81st minute, Bellingham and Vinícius were booked for protesting a referee's decision. Espanyol also made changes, bringing on Aguado and Cardona for Tejero and Jofre in the 76th minute, and Gragera for Lozano in the 67th, and Milla for Puado in the 81st.  In the 84th minute, Rodrygo made way for Endrick, and Bellingham was replaced by Rüdiger. 

In stoppage time, and with a visibly tired Espanyol squad, Real Madrid found their fourth goal in the 90th minute. Endrick, showcasing his immense potential, made a brilliant run down the flank, leaving Carlos Romero in his wake. The defender resorted to grabbing the young Brazilian, resulting in a penalty. Mbappé stepped up and coolly converted the spot-kick, sealing the 4-1 victory for Madrid. 

Conclusion 

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Real Madrid secured three crucial points against Espanyol, and while the performance wasn't perfect, it showcased a marked improvement in their attacking play and overall fluidity. The introduction of Vinícius proved to be the turning point, as the Brazilian's energy and creativity added another “Remontada” to Real Madrid history. Endrick or, the “Brazilian Bobby Charlton” as his teammates call him, made impactful cameo further added to the positives for Madrid and in fact Endrick is seriously starting a debate in Spain on whether one of the three “Galactic” forwards should be replaced by the goal-hungry teenager with less name but an apparent better eye for goal than the big guys. This victory serves as a reminder of the team's immense potential and provides a much-needed boost of confidence for the challenges ahead.