Real Madrid vs Espanyol; 5 Talking Points

#2. Politics threatens to overrun La Liga and push football to the background

Spain flags cover the Bernabeu as Ronaldo looks on during the match

The Spanish police's and interior ministry's brutal attempt at preventing an illegal referendum from taking place in Barcelona has had, and will have, widespread repercussions in the nation of Spain.

While Barcelona may have forgotten their motto of Mes Que Un Club to go ahead and play their match against Las Palmas behind closed doors, the vicious divide that the referendum and it's suppression have created doesn't look like closing down anytime soon

The Bernabeu chants "Viva Spain" at the minute 12 pic.twitter.com/e8PWluR2Yf

— Real Madrid Info (@RMadridInfo) October 1, 2017

The Bernabeu was bedecked with the Spanish national flag and chants of "Viva Espana" have rarely carried such vigour and passion. While the debate will rage on about which side has the moral high ground and which side is correct, the fact remains that this will overshadow any and every development on the football pitch.

George Orwell once said that sport is essentially war without bullets, and when a Castilian side takes on a Catalan side like what happened today, the actual business of sport runs the risk of taking a backseat.