MADRID: Real Madrid moved top of La Liga after Marco Asensio’s goal proved the difference in a scrappy 1-0 win over Espanyol.
Their victory at the Santiago Bernabeu may only give Madrid 24 hours above Barcelona, who play Girona on Sunday, with their perfect record still intact. More pressing for Julen Lopetegui will be the defensive slackness that made this arguably the least assured of the six competitive games he has overseen so far, including last weekend’s draw away to Athletic Bilbao. There were changes, with Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Dani Carvajal all rested, the latter not even included on the bench, following Real’s win over Roma in the Champions League on Wednesday. (AFP)
