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Mourinho debuts at Real Madrid with win over Espanyol

Jose Mourinho starts his second spell at Real Madrid with a victory over Espanyol in his debut.

22 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Mourinho debuts at Real Madrid with win over Espanyol — Photo: BrokenSphere · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0

Jose Mourinho has officially begun his second term as coach of Real Madrid, debuting this Saturday at the RCDE Stadium against Espanyol. According to Infobae, this match marks the Portuguese manager's return to the club after 13 years.

Espanyol announced its squad for the match, where Manolo González faces an important challenge following an initial victory in the league. Mundo Deportivo reports that the team, after a resounding 3-0 win against Levante, is preparing for the challenge posed by Madrid.

As the match progressed, Real Madrid faced difficulties against a traditional rival. La Tercera notes that despite a promising start, the Merengues had to battle to secure the victory in this first match of the Spanish championship.

Archive photo: Mourinho debuts at Real Madrid with win over Espanyol — Archive photoPhoto: Zafer · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

The decisive moment came thanks to Carlos Espí, a youth player from Real Madrid, who broke the deadlock in a tense finish. According to Clarín, Espí did what team stars like Mbappé and Bellingham could not, scoring a key goal that sealed the win for Mourinho.

The club made a €25 million investment to sign Espí from Levante, a decision Mourinho pushed for due to his potential. With this victory, the coach aims to strengthen his position and prove his worth in this new chapter at the club.

The match concluded with Real Madrid taking all three points, marking a good start for Mourinho on his return to the white bench. Although the match was challenging, it served to establish a solid foundation for the upcoming season.

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