He scored brace in 2-0 victory over Espanyol
\n BARCELONA
\nVinicius Junior struck twice for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday to make La Liga leaders Barcelona wait to be crowned Spanish champions.
\nThe Catalans would have completed their title defence if Madrid dropped points at Espanyol, but Alvaro Arbeloa\u2019s side trimmed the gap on Barca to 11 points, with four matches remaining.
\nBarcelona\u2019s next chance to claim their 29th league title comes in a week\u2019s time, when they host Real Madrid in a spicy Clasico clash. Once again, only a Real win will do to stop Hansi Flick\u2019s side.
\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got a big game coming against a great rival, who are doing things very well,\u201d Arbeloa told Real Madrid TV.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s special for the fans and for us. We\u2019ll rest very well and prepare well for this game.\u201d
\nWithout injured French superstar Kylian Mbappe and with just three wins in their last nine league games, Real Madrid arrived in Catalonia at a low ebb.
\nThey knew that even with a victory to postpone Barca\u2019s celebrations they are virtually certain to end a second consecutive season without a major trophy.
\nThe Catalans beat Osasuna in Pamplona on Saturday night and were waiting for a Madrid slip-up to celebrate back-to-back Liga titles.
\nInstead they will have the chance to claim the trophy at Camp Nou, in front of 60,000 fans.
\nManolo Gonzalez\u2019s Espanyol, now without a win in 17 league matches, are fighting for top flight survival and needed the points.
\nThe Pericos are 13th, five points above the drop zone, although, that gap could shrink on Monday if Sevilla, 18th, beat Real Sociedad.
\nMadrid had more of the ball but were unable to convert that into real danger. Vinicius Junior came closest in the first half with a deflected shot which hit the post.
\nThe Brazilian winger was engaged in a running battle with Espanyol defender Omar El Hilali.
\nVinicius was booked for a foul on the Morocco international, who was shown a red card a few minutes later for a foul on the Madrid star. It seemed a harsh dismissal and after a VAR review the card was downgraded to yellow.
\nFran Garcia, who replaced the injured Ferland Mendy early on, crossed for Federico Valverde whose header was saved by Marko Dmitrovic.
\nMadrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin saved from Leandro Cabrera\u2019s header before half-time, with neither team unable to find a way through.
\n– \u2018A total threat\u2019 –
\nMadrid nosed ahead early in the second half with a superb strike by Vinicius.
\nThe Brazilian exchanged passes with substitute Gonzalo Garcia, left two Espanyol defenders for dead and slotted home at the near post.
\nAround 10 minutes later Vinicius grabbed a second, and it was an even better goal.
\nEngland international Jude Bellingham backheeled the ball to Vinicius in the area and the forward produced an exquisite finish into the top corner.
\n\u201c(Vinicius) had a great game, scoring two superb goals… and was the leader of the attack, a total threat,\u201d Arbeloa told reporters.
\n\u201cEvery time he gets the ball, he\u2019s very aggressive, very intelligent, and as I always say, brave, constant…
\n\u201cA fantastic player, a born leader, a team-mate everyone loves.\u201d
\nVinicius\u2019s goals gave those who believe he and Mbappe cannot shine in the same team more ammunition.
\nThey were enough to clinch victory, although Gonzalo Garcia, Franco Mastantuono and Bellingham had further chances to expand Madrid\u2019s lead.
\nLos Blancos will make the journey to Catalonia again next weekend, without needing to give their arch rivals a guard of honour.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
He scored brace in 2-0 victory over Espanyol BARCELONA Vinicius Junior struck twice for Real Madrid in a 2-0 win over Espanyol on Sunday to make La Liga leaders Barcelona wait to be crowned Spanish champions. The Catalans would have completed their title defence if Madrid dropped points at Espanyol, but Alvaro Arbeloa\u2019s side trimmed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":544750,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-544736","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n