Benzema's late strikes maintain Real Madrid's perfect start

Karim Benzema was the hero for Real Madrid once again, scoring in the 88th minute and again deep into stoppage time to earn his side a 3-1 victory away at Espanyol.

Vinicius and Joselu had both scored in the first half, before an end-to-end second 45 minutes, which concluded with the Frenchman's late contributions.

Real Madrid came into this game with a 100 percent record so far, having won the UEFA Super Cup and also their away trips to Almeria and Celta Vigo.

Here, just five kilometres down the road from the Camp Nou, where Barcelona had just beaten Real Valladolid, Los Blancos had yet another away game and they started very well.

Vinicius was lively and netted a goal in the 12th minute, finishing coolly after a perfectly weighted through ball from Aurelien Tchouameni.

Real Madrid dominated most of the rest of the first half, but were sloppy towards the end of it and allowed Joselu to equalise, scoring the rebound from his own shot after a Thibaut Courtois save.

Both sides had chances once the second half resumed and it was a true end-to-end affair, but Real Madrid managed to find a route to victory.

Rodrygo had looked lively after coming on and he found Benzema at the back post in the 88th minute, for the Frenchman's first open play goal of the new LaLiga Santander season.

The No.9 then scored another deep into stoppage time, after Espanyol goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte was sent off for a last man foul, one that took place during a piece of play which saw Rodrygo net an offside goal.

Leandro Cabrera had to fill in in goals for the final moments and the defender couldn't do anything about Benzema's powerful freekick, which rounded off this 3-1 win, the fourth of the season for Los Blancos.

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