Real Madrid kept up their perfect start to the LaLiga season with a 3-1 victory over a Espanyol on Sunday evening.
Antonio Rudiger, Lucas Vazquez and Toni Kroos started as the defending champions made three changes from last Sunday's 4-1 victory over Celta Vigo at the Balaidos.
It took the visitors all but 12 minutes to go ahead after Aurelien Tchouameni slipped a pass in behind for Vinicius Junior, who applied a first-time finish.
There was an opportunity for a second goal six minutes later where Vinicius raced clear after collecting a pass from Federico Valverde and worked a point-blank save from Benjamin Lecomte.
Los Blancos' advantage hung in the balance as the half flew by and allowed the host to orchestrate chances which Joselu and Sergi Darder squandered.
Espanyol began to find confidence and purpose following the difficult start and levelled when Joselu volleyed in a rebound from close-range after having his initial shot saved by Thibaut Courtois.
The host didn't drop momentum earlier in the second half and continued to unsettle Madrid with runs in and around the area by Ruben Sanchez.
Madrid put on Rodrygo for Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga for Luka Modric, before Courtois produced a powerful save from Joselu's teasing shot at the other end.
Camavinga didn't take long to settle as he played out on the counter and set Karim Benzema up for a curling shot on the edge of the area, but Lecomte saved expertly.
Madrid made a late push for the winner and were rewarded as Benzema entered at the back-post and side-footed in from close-range following Rodrygo's clever ball.
It was an action-packed finish with Lecomte dismissed for a foul on the edge of the area and captain Leandro Cabrera had to play in goal after the host had made all their substitutions.
Madrid worsened the home side's evening as Benzema curled in a free-kick to complete his brace and lead his side to a crucial victory.
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FC Barcelona bagged a second win in a row in LaLiga with a 4-0 victory over Real Valladolid on Sunday evening.
Jules Kounde could've enjoyed a dream debut with a snap attempt from a corner, but he went off target before a loose ball outside the area had Pedri fire wide.
Barca made another opening after a few minutes and watched Robert Lewandowski nod a smart ball from good play by Raphinha against the woodwork.
Lewandowski redeemed himself during the midway phase where he leaped onto the end of Raphinha's cross-field ball and stabbed in from the tightest of angles.
Barcelona bagged a second in the last three minutes before halftime when Pedri got on the end of a cutback from Ousmane Dembele outside the area and found the bottom corner.
The Pucela could've had a goal at halftime in rather fortuitous circumstances after Eric Garcia nearly headed into his own net whilst clearing a loose ball.
Barcelona continued to surge forward after halftime and Garcia's volleyed attempt from close-range was blocked away, as Sergi Roberto, Ansu Fati and Frenkie De Jong entered.
The Catalans though got a third midway in the second half when Lewandowski ran onto a through pass from Dembele and back-heeled into the bottom-corner.
Valladolid responded and produced a flying save from Marc-Andre Ter Stegen and a goal-line clearance too from Kounde following shots from Oscar Plano and Roque Mesa.
The host made it four in added time after Roberto steered Lewandowski's shot that rebounded off the post into the net and saw his side to an emphatic win.