Carlos Espi scored a Ninetieth-minute winner as Real Madrid claimed a dramatic 2-1 victory over Espanyol within the first recreation of Jose Mourinho’s second spell in cost.
Handed the reins once more 13 years on from the tip of his first spell after a turbulent and trophy-less 2025-26 season for Madrid, it regarded as if Mourinho must endure a irritating begin.
Madrid took an early lead of their LaLiga opener as England star Decide Bellingham headed them in entrance, just for Alex Calatrava to degree for Espanyol.
Los Blancos, whose beginning XI included new signings Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva, have been largely unconvincing thereafter.
However simply as the sport meandering in direction of a stalemate, a extra unheralded new recruit settled the competition, with former Levante striker Espi pouncing after Espanyol didn’t correctly defend a darting run into the realm from Kylian Mbappe and slamming dwelling a decisive first aim for the membership.
Madrid win it late on Mourinho’s return
It took simply 10 minutes for the primary aim of the second Mourinho period to reach as Bellingham rose to satisfy Arda Guler’s left-wing free-kick and produced a header that had simply sufficient energy to beat the dive of Marko Dmitrovic.
Espanyol responded nicely, nonetheless, and Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois needed to be alert to maintain out a deflected drive from Clemens Riedel.
However there was nothing Courtois may do to cease Espanyol levelling when Calatrava steered dwelling from Javier Hernandez’s low ball into the field.
Kylian Mbappe twice went near restoring Madrid’s benefit earlier than half-time, however every time the France star was denied by the legs of the spectacular Dmitrovic.
Dmitrovic was required once more eight minutes into the second half to tip one other Bellingham header onto the crossbar, with Mbappe unable to get the proper contact on the rebound.
New signings Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande have been launched shortly after the hour mark, however Madrid struggled to create a lot when it comes to additional clear-cut probabilities till Federico Valverde clipped the skin of the submit 12 minutes from the tip of regular time.
However Espi was scientific when the chance got here his approach, the 21-year-old displaying composure to manage the ball after Mbappe was dispossessed after which leaving Dmitrovic with no probability together with his close-range end to ship Mourinho and the delighted Madrid dugout into raptures.
