Real Madrid won against Espanyol at the last minute this Saturday at the RCDE Stadium. In the first half, Jude Bellingham put the white team ahead with a header after a cross from Arda Güler on a lateral free kick. But little by little Espanyol started to grow and in a good transition Calatrava pushed a cross from Javi Hernández at the penalty spot into the goal. The break did not bring changes at the start of the second half, but the few chances in the match forced José Mourinho to react. Cucurella and Diomandé came on, but the whites barely created clear goal opportunities. Just a shot from Valverde hitting the post and a header from Bellingham that Dmitrovic saved. The Portuguese coach resorted to another signing, forward Carlos Espí. And it worked. In a play by Mbappé in the area, the striker got ahead of Dmitrovic in a divided ball and pushed the ball into the net to give Real Madrid the victory in the 90th minute.
Read more Pogacar, leader from the outset in the Vuelta by nine hundredths
I think we deserved to win, but Espanyol did not deserve to lose. We had great control, took a lot of risks and I think we deserved to win. A team that plays like Espanyol, defending as they did and counterattacking dangerously, very well organized, I think it is hard for them to go home with nothing. But I repeat, we deserved it”
End of the match at the RCDE Stadium!
Real Madrid victory at the last minute with a goal from debutant Carlos Espí. Mourinho’s team struggled to create chances after Bellingham’s early goal which Calatrava equalized, but they get their first three points in the Portuguese coach’s second spell.
1-2.
GOOOAL BY CARLOS ESPÍ!
Carlos Espí puts Real Madrid ahead again! Mbappé entered the area, a small scramble ensued and the forward, debuting in the white shirt, was quicker to anticipate Dmitrovic and push the ball into the net. Madrid takes the lead at the last moment.
1-2.
Last substitution for Espanyol
Edu Expósito leaves and Jofre comes on.
Yellow card for Edu Expósito
He stopped a counterattack by Vinicius and the Espanyol player receives a yellow card.
Triple substitution by Mourinho
Bellingham, Dumfries and Bernardo leave; Trent, Carlos Espí and Camavinga come on.
Valverde hits the post!
The ball fell to the Uruguayan at the edge of the area and instead of blasting it, he placed it with the inside of his foot close to the post. Madrid is still struggling to create chances but was close now to taking the lead again.
Double substitution by Manolo González
Pere Milla and Pol Lozano come on for Urko and Javi Hernández.
High shot from Vinicius
Madrid tries to get through the wings but Espanyol is well closed. Now Vinicius entered the area and took a high shot with his left foot.
And now the first substitutions for Espanyol
Riedel and Calatrava leave; Bauzá and Drkusic come on.
First substitutions for Madrid
Cucurella and Diomandé debut; Güler and Carreras leave.
Yellow card for Riedel
Foul by the Espanyol center-back on Mbappé that costs him a yellow card.
Konaté’s shot caught by Dmitrovic
Another cross from Güler into the area ends with a very central shot from Konaté into Dmitrovic’s hands.
Dmitrovic’s great save on Bellingham!
Madrid took a corner and Bellingham headed again towards goal, but this time the Serbian keeper reacts and after palming the ball it hits the crossbar.
Dumfries’ shot hits Unai Núñez and ends in a corner
Great run by Madrid’s right-back that ends with a shot from Dumfries that hits Unai Núñez and goes out for a corner.
Bad volley from Calatrava in the area
Ball cleared by Huijsen very centrally after a fight with Roberto and Calatrava, with everything in his favor in the area, misses the shot volleying the ball.
The second half begins!
Real Madrid puts the ball in play. No changes after the break.
Statistics at halftime
End of the first half at the RCDE Stadium!
The match goes to halftime tied. Bellingham put Mourinho’s team ahead with a header, but Calatrava equalized with a simple finish in the area. Madrid started very well with great pressure, but gradually their physical condition declined and Espanyol took advantage.
1-1.
Mbappé’s shot hits Roberto
The Frenchman fired a missile from outside the area and the ball went out for a corner after hitting Roberto.
Dmitrovic’s great save on Mbappé!
Through ball for the Frenchman who faced the Serbian keeper one-on-one and again the keeper saved Espanyol. It was a very clear chance.
Dumfries’ shot goes high
The ball fell to the Dutch full-back in the area after a clearance by the Espanyol defense, but his left-footed shot went high. In the previous play Vinicius and Calatrava received yellow cards for a clash.
GOAL FOR ESPANYOL!
Calatrava equalizes! Great play by Espanyol who was gradually growing in the match and a back pass in the area from Javi Hernández fell to Calatrava unmarked to push it into the goal. The forward lost Carreras with a good horizontal run.
1-1.
Riedel’s shot saved by Courtois
Espanyol’s center-back received a cleared ball at the edge of the area and did not hesitate to shoot at goal. The shot was central but very strong and Courtois punched it away as best he could.
Dmitrovic makes a great leg save to deny Dumfries
Beautiful through ball from Güler that leaves Dumfries one-on-one with Dmitrovic and the Serbian keeper gets his leg out well to prevent the second goal. Madrid smells the second.
Riedel saves the 0-2!
Great play by Arda Güler down the right wing that ends with a medium-height cross to the far post where Mbappé was ready to push it in, but Riedel appeared to clear and prevent the 0-2. Madrid breaks very fast when they recover the ball.
GOAL FOR REAL MADRID!
Bellingham puts Mourinho’s team ahead with a header! Lateral free kick crossed by Arda Güler connects with a header from the English midfielder and Dmitrovic fails to clear. First goal for Real Madrid in the league in under 10 minutes.
0-1.
Madrid dominates but without danger yet
Real Madrid controls the ball in these first minutes against a withdrawn Espanyol that so far does not concede chances.
The match begins at the RCDE Stadium!
Espanyol puts the ball in play.
Real Madrid players, already at the RCDE Stadium
Manolo González’s starting eleven too!
Same Espanyol eleven with which they thrashed Levante in the season opener.
XI: Dmitrovic; Omar, Unai Núñez, Riedel, Hinojo; Urko, Edu Expósito, Javi Hernández, Dolan; Calatrava and Roberto.
Mourinho’s first starting eleven is official!
Three signings make their starting debut: Bernardo Silva, Konaté and Dumfries.
XI: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Bernardo Silva, Güler; Bellingham, Vinicius and Mbappé.
Good evening and welcome to the live coverage of Espanyol – Real Madrid!
Mourinho begins his second spell in charge of the white bench this Saturday and will face an Espanyol team that started the competition with a convincing 3-0 win over Levante.
Read more The cloud that unites them
