Normal service restored as Real Madrid take easy win against Espanyol

Real Madrid cruised to their first win of 2015 when Carlo Ancelotti' s side chalked up a routine 3-0 win against Espanyol in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Real Madrid went into the game on the back of defeats to Valencia and Atletico Madrid and doubts over the tiredness of some key players, nevertheless Carlo Ancelotti kept faith with the majority of his side, while Cristiano Ronaldo was back in the starting 11 despite doubts over a knee injury.

No side has lost more times to Real Madrid than Espanyol and with the Barcelona based outfit having won just once away from home this season, it was little surprise when Real Madrid opened the scoring on 12 minutes.

Gareth Bale' s sweeping crossfield ball was knocked down by Ronaldo into the path of James Rodriguez and the Colombian had few problems in shooting past Kiko Casilla in the Espanyol goal.

Bale, who had been booed by a section of the fans after failing to control the ball earlier in the half, scored Real Madrid' s second of the game. The Welshman hit a vicious curling free kick which left Casilla rooted to his goal-line as it rebounded in off the post.

Espanyol were second best in the first 45 minutes but were handed a lifeline early in the second half when Real Madrid' s Fabio Coentrao was shown a direct red card after he and Alexis Canas both went for a ball in the middle of the field.

The visitors enjoyed more of the ball after that but failed to turn possession into chances.

Ronaldo missed two chances, while Bale was again booed after shooting wide with Ronaldo well placed but the game was sealed when substitute Nacho Fernandez scored his first goal for the club 15 minutes from time. The defender took a pass from Alvaro Arbeloa before scoring with his left foot. Endi