José Mourinho marked his second spell at Real Madrid with a 2-1 victory at Espanyol, sealed by Carlos Espí’s 90th-minute winner in a thrilling La Liga opener.

José Mourinho could hardly have asked for a more dramatic start to his second spell at Real Madrid.

Thirteen years after his first stint at the Spanish giants ended, Mourinho returned to the Real Madrid dugout on Saturday, August 22, 2026, and watched his side snatch a 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium.

It was a night that appeared to be slipping away from Madrid before a late twist delivered Mourinho three valuable points.

Real Madrid made a fast start, taking the lead in the ninth minute through Jude Bellingham. The England midfielder rose highest to head home an inviting free-kick from Arda Güler, giving the visitors early control.

But Espanyol refused to be intimidated.

The hosts gradually grew into the game and were rewarded in the 30th minute when Alex Calatrava restored parity. Calatrava finished clinically after being picked out by Javi Hernández, leaving Madrid facing a much tougher contest than they might have expected.

Madrid pushed for a second goal but found Espanyol stubbornly organised at the back. The home side also posed a threat on the counterattack, forcing Mourinho's team to remain cautious as the clock ticked away.

With the match heading towards a draw, Mourinho turned to his bench.

New signing Carlos Espí was introduced in the second half and ultimately became the hero of the night.

The substitute struck in the 90th minute, reacting quickest to a loose ball following an attack involving Kylian Mbappé. Espí kept his composure when it mattered most and fired Madrid back in front, sparking celebrations among the travelling supporters.

The late winner completed a memorable competitive debut for the new signing and gave Mourinho three points from his first La Liga match since returning to the club.

Madrid's starting lineup also featured several notable new arrivals, including Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté, underlining the scale of the changes surrounding Mourinho's return.

For Espanyol, the defeat was particularly painful after a disciplined performance that had kept the hosts in contention for almost the entire match.

For Mourinho, however, the result was all that mattered.

A 2-1 comeback-style victory, a late winner and three points on the opening weekend — the Portuguese manager's second chapter at Real Madrid is officially underway.