Espanyol vs Real Madrid: Mourinho Era Begins Amidst Injuries and Rivalry

The José Mourinho era at Real Madrid officially begins its second chapter as the team travels to Catalonia to face RCD Espanyol in their LaLiga debut. The match at the RCDE Stadium marks the start of a new league campaign for Los Blancos, who face an Espanyol side buoyed by a convincing season opener.

RCD Espanyol arrives with considerable confidence after a resounding 3-0 victory over Levante, their most dominant win since April 2025. This result helped mend fences with their fanbase following last season's struggles and extended their unbeaten streak in the top division to four games (three wins, one draw). However, they have not secured consecutive home wins since December.

Real Madrid, under Mourinho's guidance, seeks a fresh start after a trophyless previous season. Bolstered by significant signings like Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, and Yan Diomande, the Portuguese manager aims to extend his impressive record of winning his debut match with a new club for the seventh consecutive time. Real Madrid will be without Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão, and Rodrygo due to injuries, while Espanyol misses Kike García and Javi Puado.

Historically, Real Madrid has dominated encounters with Espanyol, winning six of their last seven league meetings. The two clubs have not drawn a league match since May 2013. Furthermore, Real Madrid boasts a strong record in season openers, remaining undefeated in their first league game since the 2008/09 season. Espanyol's recent home games have consistently seen between two and three goals scored, while Real Madrid maintained a clean sheet in 42% of their away matches last season.

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