Espi’s late winner ignites Mourinho’s second Real Madrid era
Carlo Espi scored a last-minute winner to give Real Madrid a 2-1 victory away to Espanyol in La Liga, providing a dramatic start to Jose Mourinho’s second spell as the club’s manager. The new signing’s decisive goal turned an opening-night scare into three points as Real kicked off their 2026-27 league campaign.
Espi’s last‑gasp winner launches Mourinho’s second Real Madrid era in dramatic fashion
Real Madrid’s season under Jose Mourinho has begun with late drama, as substitute Carlo Espi struck a decisive goal in stoppage time to seal a 2-1 win away to Espanyol in La Liga.reuters.com english.news.cn
Mourinho’s second spell starts with a scare
Mourinho’s return to the Bernabéu dugout has been one of the dominant storylines of the European summer, and his first competitive match back underlined how fine the margins could be for Real Madrid this season.english.news.cn
Espanyol, hosting at the RCDE Stadium, pushed Madrid to the brink. The visitors had all the makings of an opening‑night stumble until Espi’s intervention in the 90th minute turned a nervy evening into three points.reuters.com
According to reports from Spain and international agencies, Real’s new signing Espi came off the bench and found the winner at the death, ensuring that Mourinho’s second spell began with a victory rather than early questions.english.news.cn
Espi delivers on debut
Espi’s impact is particularly significant given that this was Real Madrid’s first league game of the 2026‑27 campaign, played on the second matchday after their original opener was postponed due to Club World Cup commitments.english.news.cn realmadrid.com
Xinhua describes Espi as a new signing, noting that his last‑minute goal away to Espanyol gave Real Madrid the 2-1 win that kick‑started Mourinho’s second stint.english.news.cn The forward’s late strike instantly places him among the early storylines of the La Liga season and offers Mourinho a crucial early boost.
Reuters characterises the match as one that looked like slipping away from Real until Espi “struck with impeccable timing,” summarising a performance in which Madrid did enough to take the points but required late heroics to do so.reuters.com
La Liga’s opening weekend takes shape
Elsewhere on the opening weekend, Sevilla capitalised on an early red card shown to Athletic Club defender Yuri Berchiche, winning 3-1 in Bilbao after the left‑back was dismissed in the 11th minute for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.english.news.cn foxsports.com
Valencia and Celta Vigo, meanwhile, played out a goalless draw at Mestalla, with home supporters again expressing their discontent towards owner Peter Lim and some members of the squad.english.news.cn
FC Barcelona are scheduled to start their league campaign away to Elche, while Atletico Madrid host Villarreal, rounding out a weekend that has already delivered a compelling opening act for Real Madrid and their returning manager.english.news.cn realmadrid.com
For Real Madrid, though, the headline is clear: Mourinho’s second era is off and running, thanks to Espi’s late winner and a hard‑earned opening‑day victory on the road.