Real Madrid Return a Hit as Mourinho Gets a Winning Welcome
Jose Mourinho's first competitive match of his second spell as Real Madrid manager ended with a thrilling 90th-minute winner from his side at Espanyol on Sunday.
The visitors took the lead in the ninth minute when England midfielder Jude Bellingham headed in Arda Guler's wide free-kick.
Mourinho's Second Spell Begins with a Thrill
Mourinho's return to Real Madrid has been highly anticipated, and his first competitive match did not disappoint. The 63-year-old manager has won 26 major official trophies across his managerial career, including three Premier League titles with Chelsea and Champions League titles at both Porto and Inter Milan.
The visitors dominated for much of the encounter and twice hit the woodwork before their dramatic late winner from debutant Carlos Espi. Bellingham had another powerful header tipped on to the bar by Espanyol keeper Marko Dmitrovic, while Federico Valverde's curling effort hit the base of the post.
New Signings Make an Impact
Real brought on talent from the bench to change the outcome, including summer signings Espi, Marc Cucurella, Yan Diomande – Real's record signing from RB Leipzig in a deal worth up to £120m – and England full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold. Espi, who joined from Levante for £21m, struck after Diomande had found Kylian Mbappe in the box and the ball fell invitingly for the Spanish forward to calmly finish.
Mourinho was named Real manager on a three-year deal in July, and started new signings Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, and Bernardo Silva. His previous spell began in 2010 and lasted three seasons, yielding a La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup.
A Winning Welcome for Mourinho
The victory delighted Mourinho, who has won numerous titles throughout his career. Real have failed to win a trophy in their past two seasons and parted ways with Xabi Alonso in January, before Alvaro Arbeloa led them through to the end of the campaign in a temporary spell.
Mourinho's return to Real Madrid marks a significant moment in the club's history, and his first competitive match has set the tone for what promises to be an exciting season. With new signings and a renewed sense of purpose, Real will be looking to reclaim their status as a dominant force in Spanish football.
Source: Joy Online
