José Mourinho made a dramatic, winning start to his second stint as Real Madrid head coach as substitute Carlos Espí scored a last-minute stoppage-time winner to secure a 2-1 victory over Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium. Just over 13 years on from his final match in his first spell—a 4-2 triumph against Osasuna on June 1, 2013—the Portuguese manager returned to the Spanish side’s dugout for their La Liga opener. The win didn’t come easily against an Espanyol team that entered the fixture full of confidence following an impressive 3-0 victory against Levante. However, Real Madrid ultimately earned all three points to kick off their domestic campaign.
The match burst into life early when Jude Bellingham directed a header past the Espanyol goalkeeper to give Mourinho a dream start. Espanyol responded resolutely, leveling the score before the break through a first-half strike from Alex Calatrava. As the match neared its conclusion, Real Madrid appeared destined to settle for a frustrating point away from home. Step forward Carlos Espí. The 21-year-old forward, who recently completed a move from Levante, made an immediate impact on his debut by stabbing home a dramatic, close-range finish deep into stoppage time to break Espanyol hearts and clinch maximum points.
Mourinho’s return to the Spanish capital comes after months of intense discussion surrounding his future. Despite earlier insisting he had experienced no contact with the club, Real Madrid finalized his appointment in June, concluding a 13-year absence after his first tenure ended by mutual agreement. Former club president Ramon Calderon had previously suggested Mourinho preferred to gauge fan reaction before committing to a second stint at the helm. Now firmly installed in the hotseat, Mourinho proved his tactical game management remains intact, turning to his bench to introduce Espí at the pivotal moment.
Action across the rest of the continent delivered equally compelling storylines on opening weekend. In La Liga, title holders Barcelona prepared to face Elche, carrying momentum from last season’s championship triumph capped by Marcus Rashford’s stunning El Clasico free-kick. Italy’s Serie A action saw Inter Milan begin their title defense in dominant fashion, sweeping aside newly promoted Monza 4-1 at the San Siro. Meanwhile, Massimiliano Allegri kicked off his reign at Napoli with a solid 2-0 victory at Genoa, while Como secured a 1-1 draw away at Udinese.
In France, Ligue 1 action produced high-scoring thrillers as Lens followed up their Trophée des Champions victory over Paris Saint-Germain by defeating ten-man Auxerre 5-2. Le Mans marked their return to Ligue 1 after a 16-year absence with a 2-2 home draw against Brest, while Troyes and Paris FC played out a goalless draw. Across the Channel, Premier League opening weekend delivered significant drama, with Roberto De Zerbi’s Spurs struggling with an injury crisis and a lack of fight in their loss, while Manchester United faced Hull City and Brentford met Spurs in early-season clashes.
