Vinicius Jr. struck twice in the second half as Real Madrid won 2-0 at Espanyol in La Liga on Sunday to keep their minor title hopes alive.
With four games to go, Barcelona lead the standings with 88 points, 11 ahead of Real, who host the Camp Nou next weekend in a Clasico that could confirm the Catalans as champions for a second consecutive season.
Vinicius broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, driving in from the left and exchanging passes with Gonzalo before penetrating two defenders and finishing low on the post.
The Brazilian struck again in the 66th minute after a fine one-two with Jude Bellingham, guiding a first-time effort into the top corner.
Vinicius provided the fireworks on an otherwise boring Sunday evening for Real. Missing a number of key starters including Kylian Mbappe, Arda Guler, Thibaut Courtois and Eder Militao, Alvaro Arbeloa’s side controlled the match from the start and almost took the lead in the eighth minute when Vinicius hit the post from inside the penalty area.
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But for all his possession, the visitor struggled to create clear chances in a slow game until Vinicius decided the game needed a shock.
The Brazilian winger opened the scoring with a brilliant goal ten minutes into the second half. He burst in from the left flank, collected a back pass from Gonzalo in the area and then cut towards the center with a feint that left two defenders behind before sending in a low finish from the left post.
Vinicius struck again eleven minutes later, this time after another quick run from the left and a smooth exchange with Bellingham.
The England midfielder returned the ball with a back heel, and Vinicius shifted his weight in the penalty area before firing a first-time right-footed shot into the top right corner, leaving the Espanyol goalkeeper with no chance.
The victory delayed Barca’s title celebrations, but perhaps only for a week as the side has the chance to seal the title against its old rival next weekend.
Published on May 4, 2026
