Real Madrid snatch late win at Espanyol on Mourinho's return

Jose Mourinho's second stint at Real Madrid concluded with a dramatic 2-1 triumph over Espanyol on Saturday. Substitute Carlos Espi sealed the victory in the 90th minute, capitalizing on a mistake after Alex Calatrava had equalized. Mourinho, who returned to the club after a 13-year absence, began the match with high-profile players including Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Jude Bellingham.

Bellingham scored the opener in the 12th minute, heading in Arda Guler's cross. Espanyol threatened midway through the first half, with both Thibaut Courtois and Roberto Fernandez making crucial saves. Calatrava leveled the score for Espanyol in the 30th minute, capitalizing on a clever team move. Mourinho made significant changes in the second half, bringing on Yan Diomande and Marc Cucurella, but Madrid struggled to break through Espanyol's defense.

Despite the loss, Mourinho praised his team's resilience and composure, acknowledging that Espanyol deserved a win despite lacking international players. The Portuguese manager hopes to regain control of the team and challenge Barcelona's dominance in Spanish football.