Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in Los Blancos’ opening fixture of the season, and new signing Espi secured the points at the death after Alex Calatrava had levelled against Mourinho’s star-studded team. Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge of Real Madrid began with a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, with substitute Carlos Espi pouncing in the 90th minute to grab the winner.
“I think that we deserved to win but that Espanyol didn’t deserve to lose,” Mourinho told reporters.
Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge of Real Madrid began with a last-gasp 2-1 victory at Espanyol in La Liga on Saturday, with substitute Carlos Espi pouncing in the 90th minute to grab the winner.
Mourinho installed him in attacking midfield with licence to roam and the former Birmingham man was heavily involved before his goal as Madrid probed. Espanyol threatened midway through the first half as Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois beat away Clemens Riedel’s drive and Roberto Fernandez hooked over shortly afterwards. Madrid did not heed the warning and Espanyol levelled in the 30th minute, Calatrava slotting home Javi Hernandez’s cut-back after a fine team move. The French forward, La Liga’s top scorer in both of his two seasons at the club, was not at his lethal best in front of goal. However in the 90th minute Madrid found the goal they needed when former Levante striker Espi, the lowest profile of Los Blancos’ summer purchases, capitalised on a loose ball in the box and fired home.
Mourinho sent on two more new arrivals in the form of record signing Yan Diomande and Marc Cucurella as Madrid sought a winner in the final 25 minutes.
