Real Madrid are looking to make it five wins from five at the start of the new La Liga campaign, and they are on course to achieve this having taken the lead against Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Xabi Alonso made some interesting tactical changes for the match, with Gonzalo Garcia brought in to form a partnership in attack with Kylian Mbappe. But it is neither player that has opened the scoring – instead, it is an unlikely source that has broken the deadlock.

Real Madrid have struggled to make any clear chances in the opening 23 minutes, and their opener can barely be called that too. Picking the ball up  30 yards from goal, Eder Militao drove forward before launching a ferocious strike that left Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic with no chance.

That is just OUTRAGEOUS from Éder Militão! 😱😱

A spectacular goal from an unlikely source for Real Madrid ⚪

𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑏𝑦 @sbk | 18+ | 𝑃𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝐺𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑅𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑦

— Premier Sports (@PremSportsTV) September 20, 2025

EDER MILITAO WHAT A GOAL! 🤯

— TC (@totalcristiano) September 20, 2025

MILITAO WITH A ROCKET FROM WAY OUT 💥

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) September 20, 2025

It’s a special goal from Militao, and what a moment for him too as he finds the back of the net for the first time in almost a year – he would out for eight months during that period after suffering a second ACL injury, which he has done very much to come back from.

Real Madrid set to continue their 100% record

It has been a very strong start to Alonso’s first full season in charge at Real Madrid, following his summer move from Bayer Leverkusen to replace Carlo Ancelotti. If his side can hang on for victory against Espanyol, it would be their fifth in La Liga, and sixth in all competitions – a 100% record.

It had been frustrating in the early stages, but with this goal, Real Madrid should be able to push to extend their lead between now and the full time whistle. There could also be first appearances of the season later on for the returning pair of Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga, should Alonso set it as necessary.