Carlos Espí Rescues Mourinho as Real Madrid Begin New Era With Dramatic Win

José Mourinho began his second spell as Real Madrid manager with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Espanyol, as substitute Carlos Espí scored a late winner to secure three points for the Spanish giants in their opening LaLiga match of the season.

The victory at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday marked Mourinho’s return to competitive action with Real Madrid more than 13 years after his first spell at the club ended. The Portuguese manager celebrated an important opening victory, although his team had to work hard to overcome a determined Espanyol side.

Bellingham Gives Real Madrid Early Lead

Real Madrid made a strong start and took the lead in the ninth minute.

Jude Bellingham rose to meet a free-kick delivered by Arda Güler and directed a powerful header beyond Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

The goal appeared to set the tone for a comfortable evening for the visitors, who created further opportunities during the opening stages.

Kylian Mbappé came close to extending Real Madrid’s advantage, while Dmitrovic was required to make important interventions to keep Espanyol in the contest.

However, Espanyol gradually settled into the match and began creating problems for Mourinho’s side.

Espanyol Fight Back

The hosts levelled in the 29th minute through Álex Calatrava.

Javi Hernández supplied the ball into the area, where Calatrava finished from close range to make it 1-1.

The equaliser changed the momentum of the game, with Espanyol becoming increasingly confident and Real Madrid struggling to maintain the intensity of their opening spell.

Dmitrovic continued to play an important role for the home side, making several saves as Real Madrid searched for another goal.

The score remained level for much of the second half, with both teams having opportunities to change the outcome.

Late Substitution Changes the Game

With the match heading towards a draw, Mourinho turned to his bench.

Among the players introduced during the second half were Marc Cucurella, Yan Diomande, Trent Alexander-Arnold and Carlos Espí.

Espí, who had joined Real Madrid from Levante, entered the match late and eventually became the decisive figure.

The young striker found the breakthrough in the 90th minute after Real Madrid worked the ball into the Espanyol penalty area.

Kylian Mbappé was involved in the move, with the ball eventually falling invitingly for Espí, who calmly finished to give Madrid a 2-1 advantage.

Espí Steals the Spotlight

The late goal immediately made Espí one of the major talking points from Mourinho’s return.

While much of the attention before the game had focused on established stars such as Mbappé, Bellingham and Vinícius Júnior, it was the young Spanish forward who ultimately decided the contest.

His goal also provided Mourinho with a valuable example of the depth available to him as he begins rebuilding the Real Madrid squad.

Several new signings featured during the match, including Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté, Bernardo Silva, Cucurella, Yan Diomande and Espí.

Mourinho Gets Winning Start

The victory gives Mourinho an encouraging beginning to his second tenure at Real Madrid, although the performance also highlighted areas that will require improvement.

Real Madrid controlled portions of the match but allowed Espanyol to regain confidence after the opening goal.

The team’s attacking quality eventually made the difference, but Espanyol demonstrated that Mourinho’s new-look side is still developing its rhythm and balance.

The Portuguese manager will nevertheless be pleased to leave Barcelona with three points rather than a draw.

A New Chapter at Real Madrid

Mourinho’s return has generated considerable attention because of his successful first spell at the club between 2010 and 2013.

His previous tenure produced a LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey triumph and a record-breaking 100-point league campaign.

The new chapter begins with a victory, but expectations around the club remain high.

Real Madrid will now look to build momentum as Mourinho works to integrate his new signings and establish his preferred tactical approach.

For Espanyol, the narrow defeat will be frustrating after the hosts recovered from Bellingham’s early goal and appeared capable of earning a point.

For Real Madrid, however, the late intervention from Espí ensured that Mourinho’s competitive return ended in celebration.

The 2-1 result means the Portuguese manager has started his second Real Madrid era with maximum points, while Espí has immediately announced himself as a player capable of making an impact when opportunities arise.

This report is based on match reports and publicly available information from the Real Madrid–Espanyol LaLiga fixture played on August 22, 2026.