Denzel Dumfries secured an official debut victory for Real Madrid on Saturday evening, helping his new club secure a 2-1 win away against Espanyol. According to reports from NOS Nieuws, the Dutch right-back earned a starting place and made an immediate impact with energetic attacking runs down the right flank before being substituted in the 80th minute.
The match also marked the official return of José Mourinho to the Real Madrid dugout. The 63-year-old Portuguese coach returned to direct the club for the first time since leaving the Spanish capital in 2013, overseeing a tense fixture that ultimately swung in the visitors’ favor in the dying minutes of regulation time.
Early Bellingham Strike and Espanyol Response
Real Madrid capitalized early at the RCDE Stadium. According to match coverage, Jude Bellingham broke the deadlock after just nine minutes, meeting an Arda Güler free-kick with a sharp header to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage.
Espanyol refused to back down in front of their home supporters. Just past the half-hour mark, Álex Calatrava leveled the score at 1-1. Javier Hernández provided the precise build-up work, weaving through the defensive line before setting up Calatrava.
Mourinho’s Return and Espí’s Late Winner
As the match wore on under Mourinho’s tactical stewardship, Real Madrid appeared poised to drop two valuable points on the opening stretch of the campaign. Dumfries, who became the ninth Dutch player to represent the club, shared the pitch alongside marquee names like Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Júnior before making way late in the contest.
With a draw looming, substitute Carlos Espí delivered the decisive blow. According to the match records, Espí found the back of the net in the final minute of regular time, salvaging a 2-1 victory and sparking celebrations on the Real Madrid bench.
What Lies Ahead for Real Madrid
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