Real Madrid have wrapped up a comfortable 3-0 win over Espanyol to extend their lead at the top of La Liga this afternoon.
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The home side looked the stronger team from the start as Cristiano Ronaldo tried to get involved early on, while Karim Benzema had a shot kept out by the post.
Real did break the deadlock inside the opening quarter of an hour when Ronaldo provided the cross for James Rodriguez to slot past Francisco Casilla.
Raphael Varane had a chance to double their advantage a few minutes later as he met a header at the near post, but his finish was a fraction wide.
Madrid continued to dominate, and added a second with just under half an hour played when Gareth Bale stepped up to thump a free kick into the back off the net.
Espanyol's hopes of a comeback were boosted early in the second half when the home side were reduced to 10 men after Fabio Coentrao clashed with Jose Canas.
Despite being a player down, Real continued to push for a third as Isco tried to set up Ronaldo on the counter-attack, but his pass forward went astray.
Bale could have put the win beyond doubt when he beat Ronaldo to the ball in the box, but the Welshman fired wide, despite having his teammate in support.
Real did find a third just a few minutes later, though when Alvaro Arbeloa curled a cross in towards Nacho, who fired the ball in low into the bottom corner.
Isco tried to make it four inside the final 10 minutes, but Casilla got his fingertips to the ball to prevent the visitors from falling further behind.
Real now sit four points clear of Barcelona at the top of the table, while Espanyol remain 10th.
Sian Cowper
