Real Madrid began their La Liga campaign with a thrilling 2-1 win over hosts Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium, handing Jose Mourinho a perfect return to the Whites’ dugout in his first official match since coming back.
Real Madrid asserted their superiority early. It took just nine minutes to open the scoring. Arda Guler swung in a free-kick from the left, and Jude Bellingham rose higher than the Espanyol defenders to head it into the net and put the Whites ahead.
Mbappe came close to doubling the lead with a curling effort, but Dmitrovic held the ball. Espanyol then made the most of one of their own attacks to level in the 30th minute, Javi Hernandez picking out the near post for Alex Calatrava to steer a first-time touch past Courtois.
The clashes and physical challenges piled up before the break. Real Madrid squandered more than one chance to regain the lead, most notably a Mbappe shot that Dmitrovic blocked with his foot, and the first half ended 1-1.
After the restart, Real Madrid kept the ball and kept the pressure on in search of a second. Bellingham nearly struck again with a powerful header, only for the Espanyol goalkeeper to intervene at the right moment. Mbappe wasted another chance as the Whites pressed on from set pieces and patient build-up.
With the draw persisting, Mourinho turned to his bench, bringing on Yan Diomande, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eduardo Camavinga and Carlos Espai in search of fresh attacking impetus. The tempo lifted in the closing minutes.
Valverde nearly won it, rattling the post in the 78th minute. Dmitrovic kept up his brilliance to keep Espanyol’s goal intact, and the match looked to be drifting towards a draw.
Then came the twist. Diomande burst clear on the wing, the ball found Mbappe inside the box, and from him it dropped to Carlos Espai, who pounced on Espanyol’s defensive confusion to strike into the empty net in the 90th minute. It was his first goal in La Liga, and it gave Real Madrid the lead.
Espanyol went hunting for an equaliser in the dying moments, but Real Madrid’s defence held firm until the final whistle. The Whites walked away with a valuable 2-1 win and a perfect start to Mourinho’s official return to La Liga.