Real Madrid kicked off their 2026-27 La Liga season with a wild 2-1 victory over Espanyol on Saturday night, securing all three points thanks to a 90th-minute debut strike from Carlos Espi. It was a proper grind for Jose Mourinho’s squad, who had to work incredibly hard for the win in their first match, something that felt typical for an early-season outing.
Espi Delivers The Late Drama
Talk about making an entrance! Jude Bellingham got things started early for Real Madrid, but Alex Calatrava quickly cancelled that out, and honestly, it felt like the game was heading for a draw. Then, in the 90th minute, debutant Carlos Espi hammered one home to seal the three points. Mourinho has to be stoked about that kind of clutch play, especially after two disappointing seasons. The team didn’t exactly light up the pitch with quality, but they put in the effort, and that late goal gives them something real positive to build on.
Bellingham & Guler Steal The Show
Despite the overall “hard work, not much quality” vibe, some players absolutely shone. Jude Bellingham, with an 8.5 rating, was back to his 2023-24 season form, playing the exact role Ancelotti used him in back then. Arda Guler, an 8 on the night, was a star performer too. Mourinho threw him on the right, a position he’s barely played, and Guler delivered, assisting Bellingham’s early goal and almost setting up another in the second half when the Englishman was denied. Federico Valverde, the new club captain, put in a solid 7/10 performance, contributing on both ends, though he did fail to track Calatrava’s run for Espanyol’s equalizer. Meanwhile, Ibrahima Konate had a strong 7.5 debut, showing dominance despite being caught out on that one goal.
Early Season Jitters Or Real Concerns?
It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Denzel Dumfries (6/10), signed to replace Dani Carvajal, had his defensive deficiencies exposed, with Espanyol’s goal coming right from his side. That was a risky move, giving Real two right-backs with major defensive gaps. Thibaut Courtois (6/10) didn’t have a ton to do, making two saves including an important one late in the first half, but he couldn’t do much about the equalizer. Dean Huijsen (7/10) got the nod over Antonio Rudiger and showed some shaky moments, similar to last season. Bernardo Silva (6.5/10) didn’t have a great debut, and it just hammered home how big a blow losing Rodri was. Mourinho’s got work to do, but a win’s a win, right? Clearly, it will take time to build confidence.
Next up, Real Madrid heads to the Bernabeu on Wednesday to face Real Sociedad. This is their chance to keep building that confidence and show some more of that quality they’ll need after a tough couple of years. Let’s see if Espi can deliver another moment of magic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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