Real Madrid's Unbeaten Streak Ends with 1-0 Loss to Espanyol

Real Madrid suffered a surprising 1-0 defeat to Espanyol on Saturday, February 1, 2025, in a La Liga match that has significant implications for the league standings. The only goal of the match was scored by Espanyol's Carlos Romero in the 85th minute. 

The match was marked by controversy when Romero committed a foul on Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé in the 61st minute. Despite the severity of the tackle, the referee issued only a yellow card, a decision that drew criticism from Real Madrid's coach, Carlo Ancelotti. Ancelotti described the decision as "inexplicable," expressing his belief that Romero should have been sent off. 

Espanyol's goalkeeper, Joan Garcia, played a pivotal role in the victory, making several crucial saves to maintain a clean sheet. This win is particularly significant for Espanyol, as it lifts them to 17th place, just above the relegation zone. 

For Real Madrid, this defeat leaves them with 49 points, maintaining a slim one-point lead over Atletico Madrid, who secured a 2-0 victory over Mallorca. Barcelona, sitting in third place with 42 points, are set to play Alaves. The loss underscores the competitive nature of the La Liga season and the challenges Real Madrid faces in maintaining their position at the top of the table.