Mbappé and Militão strike from distance as Real Madrid deals Espanyol first loss

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Kylian Mbappé and Éder Militão scored from well outside the area to help Real Madrid ease past Espanyol 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday and deal the Barcelona-based side its first loss.

Espanyol gave Militão space and the Brazil defender fired a right-foot screamer into the top corner in the 22nd minute. A diving Marko Dmitrovic got only fingertips on the ball.

It was Mbappé’s turn in the 47th when he had time to pick a spot in the bottom corner and smashed a strike that Dmitrovic could only watch nestle into the net.

Mbappé has seven goals in six games for Madrid this season, including a double in its 2-1 win over Marseille to start the Champions League on Tuesday.

“When you are facing a defense set well inside its area, you have to try from long range,” coach Xabi Alonso said. “Militão’s goal was very good, and Kylian scored in transition. We are taking steps forward and continue to grow.”

Madrid's fifth win in as many rounds moved it five points clear of Espanyol and Barcelona, which hosts fifth-placed Getafe at its 6,000-seat Estadi Johan Cruyff on Sunday.

England midfielder Jude Bellingham went on as a late substitute for his first appearance since he underwent an operation on his left shoulder on July 16.

Eduardo Camavinga also went on with Bellingham after several weeks out with an ankle injury.

Espanyol arrived to the Santiago Bernabeu just two points back in third place and undefeated after its best start over four rounds in 30 years.

The modest Barcelona-based club was without top scorer Pere Milla, who was serving a one-game red-card suspension, and struggled to produce scoring chances.

Dmitrovic made back-to-back saves to stop Mbappé from making it three in the 65th before Vinícius Júnior hit the post for Madrid.

Alonso restored Vinícius to his starting 11 after using him as a substitute in the Champions League opener this week.

Madrid was without right back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is expected to be sidelined for several weeks because of a hamstring injury sustained against Marseille. Defender Dean Huijsen was suspended.

After Saturday's win, Madrid defender Dani Carvajal apologized for being sent off for head-butting Marseille goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli this week, calling his behavior “unacceptable.”

Carvajal and Rulli were exchanging words before a corner kick for Madrid when the defender moved closer to the goalie and struck his face with his head.

“It won’t happen again,” Carvajal said.

Girona, which just two seasons ago finished the league in third place, remained stuck to the bottom of the standings after being humbled 4-0 at home by the promoted Levante.

Girona has lost all five of its games.

“We are the worst team in the league," coach Míchel Sánchez said, “and the only way out of this is to keep working and improve.”

Georges Mikautadze scored his first goal for Villarreal help them fight back for a 2-1 win over 10-man Osasuna. Georgia striker Mikautadze transferred from Lyon on the last day of the transfer market.

Veteran Chile forward Alexis Sánchez also scored his first goal since joining Sevilla this season to help beat Alaves 2-1.

Valencia beat 10-man Athletic Bilbao 2-0 at home to bounce back from a 6-0 defeat to Barcelona last round.

Baptiste Santamaría and Hugo Duro scored in the second half for Valencia, after Athletic lost Daniel Vivián to a direct red card when he fouled Santamaría with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Athletic has lost three straight while not scoring a single goal, a run including a 2-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Champions League, without injured Spain forward Nico Williams.

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

Real Madrid's Eder Militao, left, celebrates with Kylian Mbappe after scoring the opening goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, left, and Espanyol's Fernando Calero challenge for the ball during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Espanyol's goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic misses the opening goal by Real Madrid's Eder Militao, bottom sixth from the left, during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe celebrates after scoring his side's second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

CARY, N.C. (AP) — Clayton Kershaw isn't done pitching just yet, agreeing Thursday to join the U.S. team for this year's World Baseball Classic.

The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner wanted to pitch for the Americans in the 2023 tournament but was prevented because of insurance issues. He had a $20 million, one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the time.

“I was too broken for the insurance to cover my arm and everything,” Kershaw said on MLB Network, “so now that it doesn't matter I get to go and be a part of this group.”

A left-hander who turns 38 two days after the March 17 championship game, Kershaw announced last September that he was retiring at the end of the season, his 18th in a stellar career for the Dodgers. He won his third World Series title and finished 223-96 with a 2.53 ERA and 3,052 strikeouts.

“I just want to be the insurance policy,” Kershaw said. “If anybody needs a breather or if they need me to pitch back-to-back-to-back or if they don’t need me to pitch at all, I’m just there to be there. I just want to be a part of this group.”

Later Thursday, new Chicago Cubs third baseman Alex Bregman announced he will join the U.S. team.

When Kershaw received a call from U.S. manager Mark DeRosa, he thought he was being invited as a coach.

“I didn't have a whole lot of interest in picking up a baseball again," Kershaw said. “I started throwing 10, 12 days ago and it doesn’t feel terrible, so I think I’ll be OK.”

Kershaw joins a U.S. pitching staff that includes right-handers David Bednar, Clay Holmes, Griffin Jax, Nolan McLean, Mason Miller, Joe Ryan, Paul Skenes and Logan Webb along with left-handers Tarik Skubal and Gabe Speier.

The American roster also includes catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith; infielders Ernie Clement, Gunnar Henderson, Brice Turang and Bobby Witt Jr.; outfielders Byron Buxton, Corbin Carroll, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Aaron Judge; and designated hitter Kyle Schwarber.

The U.S., which lost the 2023 championship game to Japan, opens March 6 against Brazil at Houston, part of a group that also includes Britain, Italy and Mexico.

Shohei Ohtani struck out then-Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout to end Japan's 3-2 win in the 2023 championship. Kershaw doesn't anticipate facing Ohtani, his teammate for the Dodgers' World Series titles in 2024 and 2025.

“I think something will have gone terribly wrong if I have to pitch against team Japan in the finals or something. I think we got plenty of guys to get that guy out and not me,” Kershaw said. “But if that happens, I'll be nervous. I'll be nervous at this point.”

AP baseball: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw celebrates the end of the top of the 12th inning against the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 3 of baseball's World Series, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)