Real Madrid opened their 2026/27 LaLiga campaign with a dramatic 2–1 victory over Espanyol, as summer signing Carlos Espí struck in the 90th minute to give José Mourinho three points on his return to the club.
Jude Bellingham put Madrid ahead in the ninth minute, rising to head home an Arda Güler cross and give Mourinho’s new-look side an early advantage. Espanyol responded before the half-hour mark, with Álex Calatrava finishing a move created by Javi Hernández to restore parity.
Madrid struggled to turn their possession and attacking talent into a decisive second goal after the break. Federico Valverde hit the post, while Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović also produced important saves, including one to deny Bellingham.
Mourinho turned to his bench in search of the winner, introducing several new faces, including Carlos Espí, who had joined Madrid from Levante during the summer. The 21-year-old needed only about 10 minutes on the pitch to make his mark.
Espí pounced on a loose ball in the 90th minute after Kylian Mbappé was dispossessed, firing home to complete a dramatic comeback win and send Madrid back to the capital with all three points.
The result gives Mourinho a winning start in his second spell at Real Madrid, although the performance also highlighted the work required to mould a heavily revamped squad into a cohesive title challenger.
For Espí, meanwhile, it was an instant statement: a debut LaLiga appearance, a 90th-minute winner and three points for Real Madrid.
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