The Special One is BACK! José Mourinho secures a dramatic late win in his Real Madrid return
Real Madrid kicked off their 2026–27 La Liga campaign with a victory away at the RCDE Stadium in Espanyol, marking the veteran coach Jose Mourinho’s first win following his epic return to the Spanish capital.
The intense opening-day clash against a resilient Espanyol side provided immediate drama for football fans as Madrid sought to assert their dominance early in the season, while the Barcelona-based club fought hard to spoil the party.
Both managers fielded strong lineups, balancing summer signings with established veterans to secure crucial early-season points.
Mourinho gave starting tickets to new signings Ibrahima Konaté, Bernardo Silva, and Denzel Dumfries and was rewarded with a dominant 64% possession, unleashing 19 shots with 9 on target.
Defensively, Espanyol’s low-block system forced 19 clearances and relied heavily on a standout performance by goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović, who registered 6 crucial saves.
Madrid were able to strike early, with a Jude Bellingham header in the 9th minute from Arda Güler’s cross into the box.
But in the 30th minute, Madrid’s backline was exposed when Javi Hernández slipped effortlessly into the penalty area and squared a low pass, leaving an unmarked Álex Calatrava to smoothly finish past Thibaut Courtois to draw Espanyol level.
In the second half, Madrid stepped up the pressure with aggressive play. They were rewarded late in the game when substitute Carlos Espí—who had replaced Bellingham just ten minutes prior—slammed home a loose ball from close range.
With the first hurdle of the season cleared, Real Madrid must rapidly shift their focus. They face a quick turnaround as they prepare to host Real Sociedad this coming Wednesday, 26 August 2026, at 08:00 PM.
