It's been a varied menu of European football today. Joe Hart kept his first clean sheet for Torino, as they drew 0-0 with Empoli in one of the most boring games that you will see anywhere all season.

Then Inter Milan ended Juventus' 100% Serie A start in one of the most exciting.

Real Madrid did what they needed to do in beating Espanyol; Zinedine Zidane's side are looking very tidy domestically, even if the Champions League is not proving quite as straightforward.

It's been a long day, and it's time for me to go home. Thanks for your company. See you soon.

There were two games in Germany's Bundesliga today too: Hertha Berlin maintained their 100% start with a 2-0 win over Schalke, who kept up a 0% start. Markus Weinzerl's side are next to bottom after three defeats, above only Werder Bremen on goal difference.

Elsewhere, Mainz won 3-1 at Augsburg.

One result to bring you from Serie A tonight. Roma have missed the chance to go level on points with leaders Napoli, losing 1-0 at Fiorentina. Milan Badelj got the only goal with eight minutes to play.

This is how La Liga looks tonight, then. Atletico Madrid are moving up the rankings fast after two big league wins in a row. Las Palmas are hanging in there too. But it's the big two who are the top two.

Image source, BBC Sport

A record-equalling 16th successive La Liga win, then, for Real Madrid - dragging them level with Barcelona's achievement of 2010-11. And a good night for James Rodriguez and Karim Benzema. Both players' seasons have taken a while to get going; they both opened their Real accounts for the campaign tonight.

Job done. A very professional display from Real Madrid. Zinedine Zidane's side are top of the table - played four, won four.

Two minutes of time added on. We're well into that. I mean as in 'most of it has elapsed' rather than 'we really love stoppage time'.

Quite a few gaps appearing in the stands now. Espanyol's fans are heading for the exits; perhaps Quique Flores' thoughts are beginning to turn to Thursday's La Liga trip to Osasuna. Now that is a must-win game.

Real free-kick, just outside the penalty area. It's Cristiano Ronaldo territory. Oh, hang on, Ronaldo's got flu. Gareth Bale? He's injured. OK, who fancies it? Step forward, Sergio Ramos. The captain clears the wall, but his effort is batted down by Diego Lopez, as if he were patting a Labrador on the head. Step back, Sergio Ramos.

Daniel Carvajal is unlucky to go into the book; the Real right-back gets forward on to a loose ball after Diego Lopez parries a tame Isco shot. Carvajal and Espanyol's Victor Sanchez get to the ball at the same time. It doesn't even look like a foul; the referee indicates that it is.

Alvaro Morata, popping up on the left for Real Madrid, chucks in a long-range shot, but it lacks power. Diego Lopez collects it easily. Needs more welly, son. Should have been a manager, me.

A very tired looking Marc Roca is replaced; Diego Reyes is on for Espanyol.

Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos, on a yellow card since minute three, has managed to get to the final quarter-hour with no further sanction. It's not proving easy, though. He gets a little kick from Felipe Caicedo as he clears the ball, and looks pretty hacked off about it. That's as far as the centre-back's reaction goes, though. He is determined to see this one through.

Espanyol need to strike back quickly, and they almost do. Leo Baptistao breaks; it's not the best pass to Felipe Caicedo, and the Ecuador striker has to go round the houses to wriggle clear of Daniel Carvajal and see the goal. The rising shot is deflected off Carvajal, and Kiko Casilla does well to tip it over.

That is Benzema's last contribution of the evening. Having put Real fully in control with his right boot, he heads for the bench, replaced by Alvaro Morata.

Real seek a second. Lucas Vazquez and Marco Asensio bundle the ball towards goal amid some panicky home defending. It runs loose to Karim Benzema, but Oscar Duarte is across to block.

Espanyol clear the resulting corner, but the ball is soon back with Benzema, whose low 20-yard curler needs touching round the post by Diego Lopez. The home side clinging on here.

A change for Espanyol now. Gerard Moreno has had little impact in attack; former Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo is his replacement.

James Rodriguez's night is done. The goalscorer is replaced by Isco.

Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos is walking a tightrope here. The captain gives Hernan Perez a shoulder barge as he steps to clear inside his own penalty area. He could argue that he i sjust standing his ground, but it was an unnecessary act of aggression, and it could have been a very costly one if an unsympathetic referee had decided tro act.

It's a superb effort from Benzema. He has his back to goal when the ball comes to him, and he flicks it up, turns and volleys. Would have been a classic had it come off.

Superb goalkeeping from Diego Lopez keeps Espanyol in the hunt. Lucas Vazquez's cross from the right is nodded down at the far post by Marco Asensio. Karim Benzema hooks a bouncing ball at goal - but Lopez, on loan from AC Milan, thrusts up the arm to block.