•Coach Jose Mourinho
Real Madrid begin the new La Liga season with a 2-1 win over Espanyol at the RCDE stadium last night.
Young striker Carlos Espi scored the winner in the 90th minute to ensure Real Madrid got all three points in Jose Mourinho’s first match as coach after 13 years, reports AFP.
Both sides had traded first half goals with Jude Bellingham netting for the visitors while Alex Calatrava equalized for the hosts.
Real Madrid took the lead just nine minutes into the match when Bellingham nodded home Arda Guler’s set-piece delivery.
The visitors did not capitalize on their early lead to add to the advantage, allowing Espanyol back into the match and they equalized on 30 minutes.
Calatrava found his way into the centre of the penalty area to slot home Javi Hernandez’s cross.
Both sides went close both a lethargic Real Madrid came back into the encounter late on with multiple substitutions including Yan DIomande, the club’s new record signing, and Espi, bought for €25 million from Levante.
The youngster made the difference when he nudged a loose ball away from the goalkeeper following good work by Kylian Mbappe and slotted into an empty net to hand Madrid maximum points with his 13th La Liga goal since January.
Real Madrid continued its run of not losing on the opening for the 18th consecutive season, and marked only the second time in club history Real will win on the opening day with a 90th minute goal.
They face Real Sociedad on Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabeu in their next league match.
