Three takeaways from Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid

1. Mourinho's Real Madrid struggled defensively against Espanyol: The new Real Madrid team, featuring several debutants, faced a tough challenge against Espanyol in their opening match. The hosts' defense was notably shaky, often leaving large spaces for Espanyol to exploit. Espanyol's goal was a clear indication of this defensive vulnerability.

2. Debutants made their mark in a disappointing night: Several young players made their official debuts for Real Madrid against Espanyol, including Marc Cucurella, Yan Diomande, Bernardo Silva, Carlos Espi, and Ibrahima Konate. However, despite these promising showings, the match ultimately felt more like a routine win than a display of significant improvement under Mourinho's management.

3. Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe failed to click: For Real Madrid, the star forwards Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe were expected to shine after their impressive performances at the FIFA World Cup. However, both players struggled during the match. Mbappe struggled to find the net, creating minimal chances, while Vinicius Jr. failed to contribute significantly to the attack, completing only one shot out of 13 attempted passes. Their lack of synchronization hindered the team's overall performance.