Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid marked by late victory over Espanyol
A 90th-minute strike by substitute Carlos Espi secured a 2-1 win for the reigning champions, ending a turbulent season with a cautious start to José Mourinho’s second spell.
José Mourinho’s second tenure as Real Madrid manager commenced with a narrow 2-1 victory at Espanyol in La Liga, a result that underscores the continued instability within the club’s squad. The Portuguese manager, returning to the dugout 13 years after his previous departure, oversaw a performance that relied heavily on late intervention rather than sustained dominance. The win serves as a tactical reset for a team that failed to secure a major trophy in either of the last two seasons.
The match featured the debuts of new signings Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Ibrahima Konaté, who started alongside established stars Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham. Mourinho deployed Bellingham in an attacking midfield role with significant freedom, a tactical adjustment aimed at revitalising a player whose recent seasons have been described as disappointing following an impressive first year at the club.
Jude Bellingham opened the scoring early in the fixture, heading home Arda Guler’s crossed free kick. However, Espanyol responded to level the contest in the 30th minute when Alex Calatrava converted a cut-back from Javi Hernandez. The equaliser highlighted defensive lapses in Madrid’s structure, as the hosts had previously threatened through Clemens Riedel and Roberto Fernandez before the break.
In the second half, Real Madrid struggled to break down Espanyol’s defence, with goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic making key saves against Kylian Mbappé. Despite being La Liga’s top scorer in both of his seasons at the club, the French forward was not at his most lethal in front of goal. Federico Valverde also failed to find the target, hitting the outside of the post with a low effort from the edge of the box.
Mourinho introduced record signing Yan Diomande and Marc Cucurella in the final 25 minutes, seeking a decisive breakthrough. The substitution strategy paid off in the 90th minute when substitute Carlos Espi, identified as the lowest profile of Madrid’s summer purchases, capitalised on a loose ball in the box to fire home the winner.
The victory positions the reigning Spanish champions to challenge for domestic supremacy, aiming to end Barcelona’s recent hold on the league. While the result provides immediate relief, the manner of the win suggests that Mourinho’s task of controlling the dressing room and restoring structural discipline remains an ongoing process.
