Real Madrid defeated Espanyol 2-1 at the RCDE Stadium on August 22, 2026, as substitute Carlos Espi scored a 90th-minute winner in their opening match of the LaLiga season.
The victory gave manager Jose Mourinho a winning start to the 2026/2027 league campaign in Barcelona after Jude Bellingham's early header for Real Madrid was canceled out by an equaliser from Espanyol midfielder Alex Calatrava.
Bellingham Header and Calatrava Equaliser
Real Madrid took the lead in the 10th minute when England international midfielder Jude Bellingham directed a powerful header into the net to make it 1-0.
Prior to the opening goal, the match began with physical intensity when Alex Calatrava fouled Vinicius Junior in the third minute, prompting the Brazilian winger to confront the Espanyol player before the referee chose not to issue a booking.
Kylian Mbappe tested Espanyol goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic with a long-range effort in the 15th minute as Real Madrid established control of ball possession during the opening period.
Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen required medical attention on the pitch in the 25th minute after sustaining a blow to the face.
Espanyol threatened soon after when Clemens Riedel forced a save from Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois with a distance shot in the 26th minute.
Espanyol leveled the score at 1-1 in the 30th minute through a team passing move that ended with Calatrava ghosting into the penalty area to finish past Courtois.
Tensions flared in the 32nd minute when Vinicius Junior received a yellow card for protesting a foul committed on Mbappe, while Calatrava was booked a minute later in the 33rd minute.
Mbappe created another scoring chance in the 38th minute by driving into the box and unleashing a strike that Dmitrovic turned away.
During three minutes of first-half stoppage time, Espanyol came close to taking the lead when Edu Exposito hit the left post in the 47th minute, with Courtois alert to deny the rebound.
Second Half Pressure and Late Winner
Real Madrid restarted the second half seeking to restore their advantage, with Denzel Dumfries seeing a 53rd-minute shot from the edge of the area deflected out for a corner.
Bellingham nearly scored his second goal in the 54th minute when Dmitrovic saved his header onto the post, and Mbappe failed to convert the loose rebound.
Espanyol defender Clemens Riedel received a yellow card in the 59th minute, before Real Madrid appealed for a penalty in the 62nd minute when Vinicius Junior went down under a challenge inside the box, though the referee signaled play on.
Mourinho introduced Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande in the 64th minute for Alvaro Carreras and Arda Guler, while Espanyol responded in the 66th minute by bringing on Vanja Drkusic and Rafel Bauza for Riedel and Calatrava.
Espanyol made further substitutions in the 76th minute as Pol Lozano and Pere Milla replaced Urko Gonzalez and Javier Hernandez.
Federico Valverde almost broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when his powerful long-range strike following a defensive clearance hit the left post.
Real Madrid made a triple change in the 80th minute, bringing on Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eduardo Camavinga, and Carlos Espi for Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, and Bellingham.
After Espanyol's Edu Exposito was booked in the 84th minute and subsequently substituted for Jofre in the 88th minute, Real Madrid struck the decisive goal in the 90th minute.
Mbappe advanced into the penalty area and created the opening for Espi, who seized the ball and finished to put Real Madrid 2-1 ahead.
The referee added four minutes of stoppage time, during which Espanyol players Pere Milla in the 92nd minute and Pol Lozano in the 94th minute received yellow cards before the final whistle blew.
Team News and Injury Absences
Real Madrid entered their season opener with a lineup featuring Thibaut Courtois in goal, protected by a defensive line of Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras.
Bernardo Silva and Federico Valverde partnered in midfield, supporting an attacking trio of Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior behind striker Kylian Mbappe.
Espanyol started with Marko Dmitrovic in goal, behind defenders Omar El Hilali, Unai Nunez, Clemens Riedel, and Carlos Hinojo, with Urko Gonzalez and Edu Exposito in midfield supporting Javier Hernandez, Tyrhys Dolan, Alex Calatrava, and Roberto Fernandez.
Real Madrid were missing several key squad members for the fixture, with Eder Militao, Rodrygo, and Ferland Mendy remaining sidelined with long-term injuries carried over from last season.
In addition, Aurelien Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Endrick, and Raul Asencio were unavailable as they continued their recovery from respective injuries.
Head-to-Head History and Pre-Match Context
The fixture marked the continuation of a competitive series between the two clubs, with Real Madrid having won four of their previous five LaLiga meetings.
Real Madrid secured a 2-0 victory at Espanyol on May 3, 2026, following a 2-0 home win on September 20, 2025, though Espanyol claimed a 1-0 home victory on February 1, 2025.
Earlier clashes saw Real Madrid defeat Espanyol 4-1 on September 21, 2024, and 3-1 on March 11, 2023.
Prior to kickoff at the 38,529-capacity RCDE Stadium in El Prat de Llobregat, betting markets positioned Real Madrid as heavy favorites across major bookmakers including Betano, Bet365, 1XBet, Caliente, and Doradobet.
The match was broadcast across South America on DSports and streaming platform DGO, while viewers in Spain accessed the game via M+ LaLiga and LaLiga TV Bar, with ESPN coverage in the United States and Sky Sports in Mexico.
In other regional sports developments reported alongside the match coverage, former Alianza Lima player Julieta Lazcano spoke out regarding her departure from the Peruvian club, stating she would not be a hypocrite.
Meanwhile, FIFA issued sanctions against Argentina following their final against Spain, punishing players Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina alongside the Argentine Football Association.
Elsewhere, Botafogo player Alex Telles commented on an altercation involving Horacio Melgarejo, stating that Melgarejo was fleeing because he knew what he had said.
