The second era of José Mourinho at Real Madrid began with a dramatic 2-1 victory against RCD Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà, secured by a late 90th-minute strike from substitute Carlos Espí.
Espí Delivers Dramatic Late Winner in Cornellà
Real Madrid snatched all three points in the final moments of the match when summer signing Carlos Espí capitalized on a loose ball inside the penalty area. The former Levante forward shook off goalkeeper Dmitrovic and slotted home the decisive goal to seal a hard-fought 1-2 victory. The strike arrived just as the fixture was entering stoppage time, rewarding a late push after Espanyol had defended resolutely throughout the second half.
Bellingham Opens the Scoring Before Calatrava Equalizes
The visitors opened the scoring early, with Jude Bellingham netting a goal in the 10th minute. Arda Güler delivered an exquisite free-kick following a foul on Vinícius Júnior, allowing the English midfielder to power a header past the goalkeeper. The early lead reflected a dominant opening twenty minutes for Mourinho’s side.
However, Espanyol responded firmly. Following a temporary numerical disadvantage while Real Madrid defender Huijsen received medical attention for a cut on his eyebrow, Manolo González’s side surged forward. After threatening through a long-range effort from Riedel and an opportunity for Roberto, Espanyol leveled the score at 1-1 around the half-hour mark. Javi Hernández delivered a precise low cross into the danger zone, where Álex Calatrava arrived to steer the ball past Thibaut Courtois for his first-ever La Liga goal.
Tactical Shifts and Physical Demands in Mourinho’s Debut
Real Madrid exhibited physical fatigue as the match progressed, given their shorter preseason preparation compared to their opponents. Mourinho introduced several summer arrivals during the second half, handing official debuts to Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande alongside match-winner Espí, while Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries featured in the starting lineup.
Despite sustained pressure—including a header from Bellingham saved by the goalkeeper and a shot from Fede Valverde that struck the post—Real Madrid struggled to break down a stubborn Espanyol block until Espí’s late intervention in the penalty box rescued the three points.
Next Fixture and Standings Context
With this victory, Real Madrid successfully opens its La Liga campaign following the postponement of its initial fixture against Real Sociedad. The team will look to build on the result as the league schedule continues, while Espanyol aims to recover after suffering a defeat following an opening 3-0 win against Levante. Fans and analysts can follow official club updates and league announcements for confirmation of upcoming match times and squad availability.
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