Real Madrid defender Nacho insists there's no excuses after defeat at Espanyol.

Real Madrid lost 2-1 on Sunday.

Nacho said, "We had more chances in the first half. They put us under pressure on the counter-attacks and in the second half when we were at our best, a bad pass in build up by me resulted in the second goal and that made the game very difficult. We were never comfortable. We conceded in the 18th minute and that made it difficult. We have to keep working to improve defensively, that's the most important thing at the moment. It's easier if we don't concede.

“The team has injuries. That's not an excuse. This squad is good enough to do a better job than we have done in these last three games. When you concede goals, everything is much more difficult. There are no easy games in the Primera División.

"Espanyol were well organised and things didn't come off for us today. It's been a bad week, now it's the international break and we have to reflect and work on what we're doing wrong. We're just starting out and we're up near the top. It's early in the season and we need to get guys back to give it the best we can."