 Carlos Espí scored a dramatic 90th-minute winner as Real Madrid claimed a 2-1 victory at Espanyol on Saturday, handing José Mourinho a successful start to his second spell in charge of the club. |
Jude Bellingham headed the visitors into an early lead in the ninth minute from an Arda Güler free-kick. Espanyol responded strongly and equalised in the 30th minute through Álex Calatrava, who finished a patient team move.
With the match heading toward a draw, Espí, a 21-year-old striker signed from Levante for a reported €25 million, entered as a substitute around the 80th minute. He reacted quickest to a loose ball in the box after Kylian Mbappé’s run, slotting past goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović for his first Real Madrid goal.
Mourinho, returning 13 years after his previous tenure ended in 2013, later told reporters: “I think we deserved to win. But Espanyol didn’t deserve to lose. In the second half we had good control, pressure, we risked a lot, we deserved to win.”
The Portuguese coach handed competitive debuts to several summer arrivals, including Denzel Dumfries and Bernardo Silva among the starters. Espí’s late intervention prevented a frustrating opening to the La Liga campaign for a side featuring stars such as Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Bellingham.
Coverage described Madrid’s performance as hard-fought rather than dominant, with Espanyol creating difficulties after the equalizer. Mourinho’s side showed resilience from the bench to secure the three points at the RCDE Stadium.
The result marks an encouraging if imperfect beginning for Mourinho’s second chapter at the Bernabéu, where unfinished business from his first spell and the challenge of integrating a star-studded squad remain central themes.
