Mourinho gets first Real Madrid win with late goal against Espanyol

Portuguese coach José Mourinho secured his first victory in his second spell at Real Madrid, guiding the team to a hard-fought 2-1 away win against Espanyol on Saturday. The win came courtesy of a last-minute goal from substitute Carlos Espe.

Real Madrid took an early lead through Jude Bellingham in the ninth minute, but Alex Calatrava leveled the score for Espanyol in the 30th minute. The match appeared destined for a draw until Espe's decisive strike in stoppage time, marking a challenging but successful start for Mourinho.

Mourinho's return to Madrid comes with the significant task of ending Barcelona's recent dominance in Spanish football and restoring Real Madrid to its former glory. The team's performance, while resulting in a win, was not considered ideal, highlighting areas for improvement.

Bellingham made a strong impression, scoring the opening goal and nearly adding a second. However, French forward Kylian Mbappé and Brazilian winger Vinícius Júnior seemed less prepared, possibly due to their recent participation in the summer World Cup. Mourinho's leadership style and ability to manage potential squad divisions will be crucial as he rebuilds the team for title contention.