Super sub Vinícius leads Real Madrid comeback win over Espanyol

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Joan García showed why he is an up-and-coming goalkeeper — until Vinícius Júnior got the Real Madrid scoring machine going.

Vinícius went off the bench to assist Rodrygo and score one of his own and Kylian Mbappé added a late penalty as Madrid topped a tenacious Espanyol 4-1 in the Spanish league on Saturday.

García made several saves for the visitors before the Olympic gold medalist started an attack with a long pass from his box that ended with an own goal by counterpart Thibaut Courtois in the 54th minute.

But García’s only slip of the match let Dani Carvajal equalize four minutes later when Jude Bellingham’s low pass squirmed under the goalie. The Madrid right back had to only push it over the line for 1-1.

Vinícius rested in the first half as Carlo Ancelotti rotated his attacking bunch. But the coach sent the Brazil forward on immediately after Espanyol went ahead. Vinícius then took control, curling in a perfect cross with the outer tip of his left boot for Rodrygo to score in the 75th.

Vinícius beat García in the 78th for his goal after Espanyol lost the ball and Mbappé played his attack partner clear on the break.

Mbappé converted a 90th-minute spot kick after Endrick went on late and earned a penalty from Carlos Romero.

“We made mistakes that maybe you can get away with in other games, but not here," Espanyol coach Manolo González said.

Madrid pulled to one point behind leader Barcelona before it plays at Villarreal on Sunday.

Bellingham had a scare when he fell awkwardly on his right shoulder in the first half, but after briefly being seen by a doctor on the sideline he went back on. Ancelotti said it did not look like the England midfielder was fine.

Unsurprisingly, Ancelotti said he was satisfied with the “well-rounded” performance.

García in goal

After helping Spain win Olympic gold this summer, García was rumored to have been close to a move to Arsenal before finally staying put at the club he helped return to Spain's top flight last season.

And he showed his quality at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Garcia made at least eight saves before he turned playmaker with a booming kick from his box that launched Jofre Carreras down the left flank. Jofre won the end line before his low pass hit Courtois' leg and turned into the net.

But once Madrid started clicking, even an inspired García couldn't keep them out.

Double deflection

Two similar goals within three minutes of one another lifted Valencia to a 2-0 win over Girona at home.

A pair of shots by Luis Rioja and Dani Gómez in the 56th and 58th both took deflections off Girona defender Juanpe Ramirez before skirting past goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

Gazzaniga was to blame for Girona’s loss at Paris Saint-Germain midweek in the Catalan club’s Champions League debut. The goalie let a cross slip through his hands in stoppage time in a 1-0 loss in France.

Can't get going

Real Sociedad’s surprising struggles continued after a scoreless draw at promoted Valladolid. The team from San Sebastian, which has consistently finished near the top of the table in recent years, has only one victory in seven rounds.

Sociedad visits Nice when the Europa League group stage opens next week.

Also, Ante Budimir earned and converted a penalty and Aimar Oroz took the winner as Osasuna beat Las Palmas 2-1 at home. The team from the Canary Islands remained in last place and without a win.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press