Mourinho Won in the 90th. Now He Plays Three Games in Eight Days.

The Short Version

Today, August 25, 2026, Real Madrid secured their first La Liga victory under José Mourinho, defeating Espanyol 2-1 at their stadium, with Carlos Espí scoring in the 90th minute. Mourinho started three new signings simultaneously: Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva. The club hadn’t opened a La Liga season with three debuts since 2009, when Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Benzema did so. Key details: (1) Bellingham opened the scoring in the 9th minute, and Álex Calatrava equalized at halftime; (2) Espí scored ten minutes after coming on; (3) Real Madrid plays three La Liga matches in eight days; (4) the match on August 26 against Real Sociedad is the postponed first round; (5) the third is against Málaga on the 30th.

The Goal Came in the 90th Minute

Espanyol had made it tough. Bellingham opened the scoring in the ninth minute, and Alex Calatrava equalized by the half. For over an hour, the RCDE Stadium held the draw, which would have been perfect for them.

Carlos Espí came on from the bench and scored ten minutes later, in the 90th. Madrid signed him from Levante for 25 million euros, and he’s netted eleven LaLiga goals since late February—more than any other player in that span.

Mourinho summed it up without embellishment: “I think we deserved to win. But Espanyol didn’t deserve to lose.”

Three New Starters, and the Last Time Was in 2009

The decision that will be remembered from this match isn’t the substitution that secured the win, but the lineup that started the game.

Cucurella, Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva all entered the match from the first minute. Real Madrid hasn’t opened a La Liga season with three new starters since 2009 — Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Karim Benzema — in other words, since the last time the club rebuilt its squad all at once rather than incrementally.

A coach arriving with a contract until 2029 who decides to debut three players in the first official match is signaling something about the timeline they’re working with. This isn’t a squad that will integrate slowly.

Eight Days, Three Matches: The Cost of Rest

Here’s the part that connects to what happened in August.

LaLiga agreed with AFE to delay the first round for clubs that sent players to the World Cup semifinals. It was a reasonable agreement, and Real Madrid opted to take advantage of it. The trade-off now arrives in the form of a calendar.

The rest earned in July is being paid in August. Players who returned late from the World Cup had their free weeks; the coaching staff that receives them must fit three official matches into eight days to catch up with a calendar that didn’t shift.

It’s not a complaint: Real Madrid signed the agreement. It’s simply the price, and it’s worth keeping in mind when judging the first results of the season.

What Mourinho Said About Bellingham

Among Mourinho’s comments, the most specific wasn’t about the result but a role.

He described Bellingham as a player who must operate near the goal area: “For me, this is his position. With his link to the forwards, he can score goals. He has to play close to the net.”

It’s a brief statement and also a public instruction. The goal in the ninth minute came exactly from that area.

What’s Next, at the Bernabéu

The next two matches are at home. On the 26th, Real Sociedad — the game that was supposed to be played on August 15th — arrives, and on the 30th, Málaga.

By then, LaLiga’s standings will once again be clear: clubs that postponed their opening round matches will have completed their pending fixtures, and the table will stop comparing teams with different numbers of games played.

Mourinho will have coached three official LaLiga matches in his second spell. With that, nothing is yet known about the season, but something is known about a plan: three key signings on the first day, and a 25-million-player waiting on the bench for the 80th minute.

FAQ

How did Espanyol v Real Madrid finish?
1-2 for Real Madrid, August 22, 2026, at RCDE Stadium.

Who scored?
Jude Bellingham at the 9th minute and Carlos Espí in the 90th for Madrid; Álex Calatrava equalized for Espanyol at the half-hour mark.

Was this Mourinho’s first match in his second stint?
It was his first official La Liga match in charge of Real Madrid thirteen years after his departure.

Which three players made their debuts as starters?
Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva.

When was the last time Madrid fielded three debuts in a league opener?
In 2009, with Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaká, and Karim Benzema.

Why is Real Madrid playing three matches in eight days?
Because their opening week was postponed due to the post-World Cup rest agreement, requiring rescheduling: August 22, 26, and 30.

Which match was postponed?
Real Madrid – Real Sociedad, August 26 at the Bernabéu, corresponding to the first round.

Where did Carlos Espí come from?
From Levante for €25 million. He has scored eleven LaLiga goals since late February.

What did Mourinho say about the match?
That his team deserved to win but Espanyol did not deserve to lose, and that they controlled and pressured in the second half.

When does Real Madrid play next?
August 26 against Real Sociedad and August 30 against Málaga, both at the Santiago Bernabéu.