José Mourinho's long-awaited second spell at Real Madrid began with a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Espanyol, sealed by a stoppage-time goal from unheralded striker Carlos Espí on a night that offered both promise and warning signs.
It was Mourinho's first match in charge of Real Madrid in 4,380 days, and while the headlines belonged to superstar names like Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham, it was 21-year-old Espí who provided the decisive moment. Signed from Levante, where his goals helped stave off relegation last season, Espí forced home the winner after a scrambled move saw the ball squirm away from Mbappé inside the box.
Notably, Mourinho's reaction to the late strike was restrained compared to the wild celebrations of his bench, which emptied in celebration toward assistant Carlos Espí. Rather than sprinting down the touchline himself, the Portuguese coach clenched his fists, walked calmly behind his celebrating substitutes, and pulled captain Fede Valverde aside for a brief word.
Madrid took an early lead when Bellingham rose highest to head home a superb cross from Arda Guler in the ninth minute, following a foul on Vinícius that set up the dead-ball situation. For a spell, Madrid looked dominant, pressing high and restricting Espanyol's ability to build attacks.
However, the visitors from Barcelona responded impressively. Thibaut Courtois initially denied Riedel, but Roberto Fernández could not clear the rebound, allowing Espanyol to equalize. Moments later, a flowing move involving Tuy Dolan and Javi Hernández teed up Alex Calatrava to put Espanyol ahead, stunning the Santiago Bernabéu.
Madrid continued to create chances without finding a breakthrough for long stretches. Mbappé twice forced saves from goalkeeper Marko Dimitrovic, while Bellingham struck the crossbar from a corner, with the loose ball falling agonizingly wide for Mbappé near the post. Valverde also hit the woodwork as Madrid pushed for a second equalizer that eventually turned into a winning goal through Espí's late intervention.
Despite the eventual win, Mourinho was candid in his post-match assessment. "I think we deserved to win, but Espanyol didn't deserve to lose," he said, acknowledging that his opponents had matched Madrid for large portions of the contest.
The Portuguese coach also spoke about how he intends to deploy his attacking trio of Mbappé, Vinícius, and Bellingham together, addressing suggestions that their similar playing styles might create tactical conflicts. "I don't think they're incompatible," Mourinho said, explaining his vision for Bellingham's role in particular. "For me this is his position: the connection with the forwards, he can score goals. He has to play close to the goal. Playing at 6 or 8 we're losing his closeness to the goal."
Mourinho's return follows six years away from the Bernabéu dugout, with club president Florentino Pérez having long expressed a desire to bring him back. The coach had previously described his first spell in charge as intense and, at times, difficult, but reportedly maintains a close relationship with Pérez, who reportedly calls him after every trophy the club wins, even in his absence.
Earlier in the buildup to the game, Mourinho emphasized the importance of commitment from his squad going forward. "We have to try not to negotiate things that are non-negotiable," he said. "Commitment can't be missing."
With the win, Mourinho's second era in charge of Real Madrid begins on a winning note, though questions remain about squad depth, defensive solidity, and how quickly his demands for discipline and intensity will translate into more comprehensive performances.
Based on reporting from The Guardian (Sid Lowe).