Real Madrid began their 2026-27 La Liga campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday, August 22. Carlos Espí scored in the 90th minute to give José Mourinho a winning return to the Spanish league and rescue Madrid from what had looked like a frustrating opening-day draw.
The result gave Real Madrid an important three points, although Espanyol pushed the visitors hard for much of the contest and showed they could be a difficult opponent this season.
Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid: Match Summary
Real Madrid made a quick start in Barcelona, taking the lead after just nine minutes.
Arda Güler delivered a dangerous cross into the area, and Jude Bellingham rose highest to direct his header inside the near post. The early goal appeared to put Madrid in control, but Espanyol responded strongly rather than allowing the visitors to dictate the match.
The hosts found their equalizer in the 30th minute. Javi Hernández worked his way into the penalty area before sending the ball across the face of goal, where Alex Calatrava was left unmarked and finished past Thibaut Courtois.
At 1-1, Espanyol gained confidence while Madrid struggled to turn their possession and attacking pressure into a second goal.
Carlos Espí Produces Dramatic Late Winner
The decisive moment arrived in the 90th minute.
Real Madrid substitute Carlos Espí reacted quickest after Kylian Mbappé lost possession inside the penalty area. Goalkeeper Dmitrovic came off his line to deal with the danger, but Espí collected the loose ball and finished into the empty net.
The goal completed a memorable Real Madrid debut for the 21-year-old forward, who had recently arrived from Levante after scoring 13 goals in all competitions during the previous campaign.
Espí’s late intervention proved to be the difference between one point and three for Mourinho’s side.
Arda Güler Shines for Real Madrid
Although Espí grabbed the headlines with the winning goal, Arda Güler was one of Real Madrid’s most influential players.
The Turkish midfielder created seven key chances and registered the assist for Bellingham’s opener. His delivery from set pieces repeatedly caused problems for Espanyol, including another opportunity that almost resulted in a second Bellingham header.
Güler’s creative display was one of the biggest positives for Madrid as they began their league campaign.
Bellingham Makes Early Impact
Jude Bellingham also played a major role in the victory.
The England international opened the scoring with a well-taken header and remained involved in Madrid’s midfield play throughout the match. He also came close to scoring another goal from one of Güler’s dangerous deliveries.
Bellingham was eventually substituted after appearing to roll his ankle on a poor patch of turf, adding a concern for Madrid despite their victory.
Mbappé and Vinícius Jr Struggle to Find Their Best Form
Real Madrid’s attacking superstars did not have their most productive evenings.
Kylian Mbappé attempted 10 shots but managed only three efforts on target. He showed flashes of his quality but struggled to consistently break through Espanyol’s defensive structure.
Vinícius Jr also found the match difficult. He completed three of seven attempted dribbles and lost possession 15 times. However, he won the free kick that eventually contributed to Bellingham’s opening goal.
Despite their individual struggles, Madrid still generated enough opportunities to secure the victory.
Real Madrid Dominated the Numbers
The final statistics suggested that Real Madrid deserved the win.
Madrid finished the game with 63 percent possession and produced 21 shots, including eight on target. Their expected goals figure was 2.92 compared with 1.12 for Espanyol.
Espanyol goalkeeper Dmitrovic was among the home side’s best performers for much of the evening, making several important interventions before his involvement in the late goal.
The numbers underline Madrid’s attacking superiority even though they needed a late moment of inspiration to finally break the deadlock.
Mourinho Wins on Real Madrid Return
The victory was particularly significant for José Mourinho.
The Portuguese coach returned to the Real Madrid dugout for his second spell at the club and immediately secured three points in La Liga. Madrid were not at their most clinical, but Mourinho will be pleased that his team found a way to win a difficult away match.
The result also extends Real Madrid’s winning run to four matches when preseason fixtures are included.
For Mourinho, starting the new La Liga campaign with a victory will provide an early boost as Madrid attempt to challenge Barcelona for the league title.
Espanyol Show Plenty of Promise
Despite suffering defeat, Espanyol produced an encouraging performance.
Manolo González’s team had already opened the season with a victory over Levante and showed against Real Madrid that they can compete with stronger opposition. Their ability to recover from Bellingham’s early goal and equalize demonstrated their resilience.
Espanyol will now look ahead to their next league fixture against Real Sociedad, where they will hope to build on the positive aspects of their performance against Madrid.
What’s Next for Real Madrid?
Real Madrid’s next La Liga match will be at home against Real Sociedad. The fixture is scheduled for Wednesday as Madrid’s league schedule has been affected by their delayed start.
Mourinho’s side will then host newly promoted Málaga at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday.
With the season still in its opening stages, Madrid will be encouraged by the three points while also having several areas to improve, particularly their attacking efficiency.
Espanyol vs Real Madrid Final Score
Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid
Scorers:
- Jude Bellingham — 9′
- Alex Calatrava — 30′
- Carlos Espí — 90′
Real Madrid ultimately escaped Barcelona with a hard-earned victory. Bellingham’s early header gave them the perfect start, but Calatrava’s equalizer ensured a tense second half. Espí then emerged from the bench to deliver the decisive moment and give Mourinho a winning La Liga return.
The 2-1 result means Real Madrid start their 2026-27 campaign with maximum points, while Espanyol can take confidence from a competitive display against one of Spain’s biggest clubs.
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