Vinicius Junior's impactful substitution helped Real Madrid secure a 4-1 comeback victory against Espanyol, closing the gap to La Liga leaders Barcelona to one point. An own goal by Thibaut Courtois initially put Madrid behind, but Dani Carvajal equalized before Vinicius set up Rodrygo and scored himself. Kylian Mbappe sealed the win with a late penalty, marking his fourth consecutive scoring game. This victory extends Madrid's unbeaten streak in La Liga to 38 games. Coach Carlo Ancelotti and captain Luka Modric praised the team's faster play and overall commitment. Barcelona, currently unbeaten, face a challenging match against Villarreal to maintain their lead.