Mourinho’s Return Starts with a Win, but Real Madrid Show Flaws
José Mourinho marked his return to Spanish football with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol on Saturday evening at the RCDE Stadium, his first official match in charge of Real Madrid since rejoining the club. The win was secured thanks to a ninth-minute header from Jude Bellingham and a stoppage-time strike from substitute Carlos Espí, who scored just 10 minutes after coming on.
The result gave Real Madrid three points in their opening La Liga fixture, but the performance was far from convincing. According to Spanish newspaper AS, Mourinho was taking charge of his first La Liga match for Real Madrid after an absence of 4,830 days, having last led the club to a 4-2 win over Osasuna on 1 June 2013. Despite the victory, the team’s display left many talking points, with the attacking unit struggling for fluidity and several players failing to impress.
New Signings Make Official Debuts
All six of Real Madrid’s summer arrivals made their official debuts in the match. Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté started, while Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella and Espí came off the bench. Of the group, Espí—who arrived after the club triggered his €25 million release clause—was the most impactful, scoring the winning goal and outshining his fellow newcomers.
Espí’s late strike masked what had been a largely disjointed attacking performance. The Spaniard had moved up the pecking order after Endrick was ruled out with a muscular issue ahead of the league opener. His contribution earned him hero status, but the same could not be said for Vinícius Jr., who endured a quiet afternoon. The Brazilian failed to create a single chance, took only one shot, and completed just 10 passes in 90 minutes—a far cry from his usual influence.
Midfield Concerns and a Missed Opportunity
Mourinho’s midfield choice raised eyebrows, as he opted for Bellingham, Arda Güler, Federico Valverde and Bernardo Silva in the center of the park. Güler impressed in just over an hour, creating a game-high seven chances and providing an assist while misplaced only three passes. Yet Mourinho replaced him in the 64th minute with Diomande, a decision that may have contributed to the team’s lack of control in the closing stages. Alexander-Arnold was introduced in the 80th minute but had little time to make an impact.
The victory prevented what would have been a lackluster draw, but according to one analysis, there were still "glaring problems all over the pitch" for the 15-time European champions. The article noted that patience has worn thin after two seasons without a major trophy, and highlighted the need for improvement ahead of a demanding schedule.
Tchouaméni Absence and Injury Updates
Real Madrid were without several players for the match. Injuries ruled out Militão, Rodrygo, Thiago Pitarch, Mendy, Asensio and Endrick. Aurélien Tchouaméni was also absent from the squad list, though he trained with the team ahead of the fixture. The decision to leave him out was likely made to avoid any risk of injury, as he had recently recovered from a muscle discomfort. According to reports, Tchouaméni is expected to return for the next matchday against Real Sociedad on Wednesday.
The win gives Mourinho a positive start, but the performance suggests there is work to be done if Real Madrid are to challenge for honors this season. The team’s next test comes midweek, and with several players still sidelined, the squad’s depth will be tested again.