Vinicius double sinks Espanyol and keeps La Liga alive ahead of El Clasico
For 54 minutes at the RCDE Stadium, Real Madrid's title hopes looked exactly the way they had felt for most of April: stuck. Then Vinicius Junior took over.
The Brazilian broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, exchanging passes with Gonzalo before cutting inside two Espanyol defenders and finishing low into the far corner. Eleven minutes later he doubled the lead, set up by a clever Jude Bellingham assist inside the box, and his first-time effort flew into the top corner.
It was the kind of performance Madrid have been waiting for from Vinicius all season, and it came on the night they could least afford to drop points. Barcelona had won 2-1 at Osasuna a day earlier, leaving Alvaro Arbeloa's side with no margin for a slip in Cornella.
A title race that refuses to die
The win narrows the gap at the top to 11 points with four matches remaining for both teams. The maths still favour Barcelona heavily. Even if Hansi Flick's side drop every remaining point, Madrid would still need to take all 12 from their last four to overtake them by a single point. But the race is, technically, still alive.
That feels relevant for one specific reason: El Clasico is next. Barcelona host Madrid at Camp Nou next weekend, and a Madrid win would knock the lead down to eight with three matches left.
It would not be enough on its own. But it would be enough to keep the final two weekends uncomfortable for Flick.
A solo night for a forward who needed it
Beyond the table, this was a personal night for Vinicius. The Brazilian has had a frustrating season by his standards. The first finish on Sunday, a low strike after a slick exchange with Gonzalo, was his most assured moment in months.
The second was even cleaner. Bellingham picked Vinicius out inside the box, and the forward swept his first-time effort into the top corner.
Manolo Gonzalez's Espanyol, who started the night 13th and five points clear of the relegation zone, had little to offer in response.
What Madrid have to do now
Madrid travel to Camp Nou next weekend with a simple instruction: win, or it is over. Vinicius and Bellingham have been their two most reliable creators since Arbeloa took over from Xabi Alonso in January, and they will need both at their best to drag this title race into the final fortnight.
On Sunday night in Cornella, for the first time in weeks, Real Madrid looked like a side that believed there was still something to play for. Vinicius made sure of it.
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