Real Madrid saw off Espanyol at the Bernabéu to provisionally move top of the LaLiga standings. The hosts took their time to make the breakthrough, with the opening goal only coming in the 37th minute. Raphaël Varane was the man to get it as he became the 15th madridista to have found the net so far this term. The Frenchman was played in by his compatriot, Karim Benzema, and he produced a slide-rule left-footed finish to beat Diego López, who was the visitors’ standout performer on the day.