Espanyol 1-2 Real Madrid: Late Espi winner seals Mourinho's return (full match highlights)

Mourinho stated after the match that his team showed character and never gave up, and he was absolutely right. The game at Cornellà-El Prat on 22 August 2026 had everything a neutral fan could dream of: early drama, a equaliser, and a last-gasp winner. Real Madrid snatched a 2-1 victory over Espanyol, but the hosts made them work for every single point. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a clinical finish, but Espanyol responded in the 30th minute when Álex Calatrava levelled the game with a fine strike set up by Xavi Hernández. Then came the turning point of the contest. The Athletic noted that Real were under the radar for large spells, yet they found a way to win. Referee José Sánchez Martínez, assisted by Raúl Cabañero Martínez and Juan López Amaya, had his hands full with bookings including Calatrava and Vinícius Júnior in the 32nd minute, Riedel in the 59th, Espósito in the 84th, and both Milla and Lozano in stoppage time. Just when the visitors seemed destined to drop points, Carlos Espí scored the winner in the 90th minute to seal all three points. Was this the game that redefines Real's resilience under Mourinho? The statistics show that Real had 58% possession and 14 shots on goal, while Espanyol fought with 42% and 8 attempts. This was a classic example of a side refusing to lose. And indeed, the result speaks volumes: Espanyol may have lost, but they won respect, while Real Madrid moved on with three points that could prove crucial in the title race.