Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid: Bellingham, Espí secure opening day victory
Real Madrid began their La Liga campaign with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday night. The match saw six players make their debuts for Real Madrid, and marked the return of José Mourinho to the dugout after a 13-year absence.
The winning goal for Real Madrid came in injury time, securing the team’s first three points of the season on the road. This result also marked Mourinho’s seventh game unbeaten against Espanyol.
Bellingham’s Early Impact and Espí’s Debut Goal
Jude Bellingham made an immediate impact for Real Madrid, scoring the team’s first goal in the second spell under coach José Mourinho. Bellingham found the net just 9 minutes into the match, giving the Whites a 1-0 lead over Espanyol. This early goal continued Bellingham’s strong scoring form, following his performances at the World Cup, and provided a perfect start for Real Madrid away from home.
In contrast to Bellingham’s quick strike, Mourinho’s first spell with Real Madrid saw Ricardo Carvalho score the team’s initial goal after 48 minutes against Osasuna. Bellingham now joins a list of players who have scored Real Madrid’s first goals in the Spanish league over the past 15 seasons. This list includes Gonzalo Higuain, Karim Benzema (twice consecutively), Gareth Bale (three times consecutively), Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Lucas Vazquez, Rodrygo (twice consecutively), and Kylian Mbappé.
The decisive goal of the match came from Carlos Espí, who scored his first goal for Real Madrid just 10 minutes after being introduced as a substitute for Jude Bellingham. Espí’s touch and finish were crucial in changing the scoreline and sealing the victory. His debut goal mirrored the timing of Endrick, who also scored on his Real Madrid debut after 10 minutes in a 3-0 win over Real Valladolid in August 2024.
Key Performances and Managerial Milestones
José Mourinho’s undefeated record against Espanyol now stands at seven games. During his first four encounters with the Catalan side between 2010 and 2012, his teams scored 13 goals without conceding any. This was followed by two draws, both home and away, in the 2012/13 season. His most recent meeting with Espanyol prior to Saturday’s match was a 1-1 draw at the RCDE Stadium in May 2013, where Gonzalo Higuaín scored while wearing the captain’s armband. The recent match nearly resulted in a third consecutive draw against Espanyol for Mourinho, but Espí’s intervention secured the win.
Kylian Mbappé had a notable performance, registering double-digit shots in the game. Despite not scoring, he claimed an assist by setting up Espí for the winning goal. This assist came earlier in the season for Mbappé compared to the previous season, when he did not achieve an assist until mid-September.
Jude Bellingham also demonstrated his aerial prowess, heading in a goal from Arda Güler’s free-kick. This was Bellingham’s eighth headed goal for Real Madrid, with seven of these coming in league competition. He is the only player to have scored with his head in La Liga for any team across each of the last four seasons.
Ibrahima Konaté, making his debut, showcased a strong performance with 89 touches, more than any other player on the field. He also led in defensive actions with nine and maintained a 97% pass completion rate from 75 passes, indicating a solid debut for the French international.
Historical Context for Real Madrid’s Start
Real Madrid’s victory ensures they avoid losing their opening game of the season, a rare occurrence for the club. The last time Real Madrid lost their first game of the season was 18 years ago, in August 2008, when they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Deportivo A Coruña in Galicia. In that match, a Ruud van Nistelrooy equaliser was quickly cancelled out by Alberto Lopo. Before that loss, Real Madrid’s most recent opening day defeat was a 1-0 loss at Mestalla in 2001. The club’s previous opening day defeat before 2001 occurred in 1984, when the season began with a Clásico, marking the last time Real Madrid lost their first game of the season at the Bernabéu.
The 2-1 win against Espanyol marks a positive start to the season for Real Madrid.
Source: managingmadrid.com
