Espí seals narrow LaLiga win for Mourinho’s Real Madrid

José Mourinho’s return to the Real Madrid dugout was marked by a late, hard-fought victory over Espanyol in the opening fixture of the LaLiga season. The 2-1 win at Barcelona’s home ground provided a positive, if fragile, foundation for the Portuguese manager’s second spell, which marks his first time in charge of the club in 13 years.

The match began promisingly for the visitors, with England midfielder Jude Bellingham heading Real Madrid into a ninth-minute lead. However, the advantage did not last as Espanyol’s Cala equalised on the half-hour mark, leaving Mourinho’s side to chase the result for the remainder of the contest.

The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute, when new signing Carlos Espí converted a chance created after Kylian Mbappé was dispossessed. Espí fired past Marko Dmitrovic to secure his first goal for the club, having entered the game as a substitute just ten minutes prior.

The victory highlighted the impact of Madrid’s summer recruitment drive. Espí, 21, was a standout performer in LaLiga last season and reportedly cost Madrid €25 million ($28 million) from Levante. His goal was his 11th in the league since 27 February, the highest tally for any player in that specific period.

Mourinho also utilised his new arrivals in the starting lineup, handing debuts to Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva. This marked the first time since 2009 that Real Madrid started three debutantes in an opening league game, a precedent last set by Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Karim Benzema.

Further squad integration was evident in the second half, when Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande made his debut. Diomande, who joined from RB Leipzig for an initial fee of €125 million ($146 million), replaced Arda Güler in the 64th minute, adding depth to a squad undergoing significant transitional changes.