Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol: Isco prevents another Bernabeu debacle

Real Madrid won at home in La Liga at the fourth time of trying thanks to two Isco goals in a 2-0 win against Espanyol. 

Zinedine Zidane's side had drawn with Valencia and Levante at home and were beaten in their last game at the Santiago Bernabeu by Real Betis. 

It looked like they would struggle against Espanyol at times, too, with Pau Lopez making two brilliant saves and several Madrid players erring in their finishing. 

However, Isco eventually broke the deadlock and set Los Blancos on their way to three important points. 

Even at 1-0, mind, three points did not look certain as Espanyol came close to grabbing an equaliser, with Gerard Moreno having their best chances. 

Isco's second goal of the game sealed the win, though, and brought the curtain down on a disappointing run of results in the league at the Bernabeu. 

But there was more disappointment for Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portugal international still waiting to open his account in La Liga this season. 

Madrid remain seven points behind league leaders Barcelona, whose perfect start to the season continued with a 3-0 behind closed doors win against Las Palmas on Sunday. 

Barça president Josep Maria Bartomeu said the decision to play the game without fans was to protest Sunday's events in Catalonia as the region held a referendum on its independence. 

Force used by Spanish police had led to doubts about the game going ahead, but it was played and Barça won with two goals from Lionel Messi after Sergio Busquets had opened the scoring.