October 2, Barcelona's Cornellà Stadium.
In the seventh round of La Liga, Real Madrid traveled to face Espanyol.
Although they were playing away from home, Real Madrid launched a powerful attack from the start. In the seventeenth minute, during a counterattack, Yang Yang received David Silva's through ball, dribbled up the left wing, used a Forceful Breakthrough, and sent a diagonal pass into the box. Ibrahimovic finished one-on-one in front of goal, opening the scoring for Real Madrid.
Espanyol then strengthened their defense, especially in physical challenges.
Although they were bitter local rivals of Barcelona, when facing the major enemy that was Real Madrid, their attitude was remarkably united.
Real Madrid did not score again until the second half. Maicon received Robben's pass on the right, dribbled to the edge of the box, and sent a through ball. Ibrahimovic met it on the right side of the penalty area and smashed it into the far corner, making it 2–0.
Yang Yang was tightly marked throughout the match, but he used his movement to draw the defenders' attention and create more opportunities for his teammates.
In the eighty-second minute, Yang Yang collected the ball on the left once again and faced the defender Flynn one-on-one. After a light feint, he suddenly cut inside and forced his way through. Flynn had no way to stop him as Yang Yang dribbled into the box and sent a low cross to the far post. Robben arrived and calmly tucked the ball into the near corner, making it 3–0.
In the eighty-ninth minute, after Espanyol won the ball inside their own box, Real Madrid pressed them intensely. A mistake was made on the back pass, and Ibrahimovic got there first, finishing one-on-one to complete his Hat-trick.
In the end, Real Madrid secured a 4–0 away