Special One is back! Debutant Carlos Espi nets dramatic winner to hand Jose Mourinho victory in Real Madrid return

Things couldn't have started better at the RCDE Stadium when Jude Bellingham's early header gave the visitors a ninth-minute lead, with the England international rising highest to meet a pinpoint free-kick from Arda Guler.

Espanyol appeared rattled by the intensity of the Madrid press, yet they almost found a way back into the contest when Clemens Riedel unleashed a 30-yard thunderbolt that required a sharp save from Thibaut Courtois. Despite the early pressure from Los Blancos, the home side grew into the game, aided by a brief stoppage to treat a cut above the eye of Madrid defender Dean Huijsen.

The hosts were rewarded for their persistence in the 30th minute when Javi Hernandez produced a moment of individual brilliance, weaving his way to the byline before cutting the ball back for Alex Calatrava to sweep home. Real Madrid struggled to regain their composure immediately after the equaliser, and were lucky not to be trailing at the break when Roberto Fernandez fluffed his header in front of a gaping goal.

Kylian Mbappe, making his league bow under Mourinho, also found his path blocked by the impressive Marko Dmitrovic. The Serbian goalkeeper denied the Frenchman with a sprawling save using his legs before stopping a subsequent low drive.

Mourinho looked to his bench to break the deadlock, handing a debut to record-signing Yan Diomande. The injection of pace almost paid immediate dividends when a deflected cross fell to Federico Valverde, only for the Uruguayan’s powerful effort to rattle the outside of the post.

Bellingham remained the most likely source of a breakthrough, seeing another header crash off the crossbar from a Guler corner as the pressure reached a boiling point. Real’s offensive struggles were epitomised ten minutes from time when Mbappe’s half-volley drifted harmlessly toward the corner flag.

Just as it looked like Espanyol would secure a hard-earned point, the substitute delivered a moment he will never forget. In the first minute of added time, Espi slammed home a loose ball after Mbappe had been crowded out in the area.

The result ensures that Real Madrid have now avoided defeat in their opening La Liga game for 18 successive seasons. For Mourinho, the victory maintains his incredible personal record of seven straight wins in managerial debut matches. While the performance suggested there is still plenty of work to be done to integrate his new signings, the "Special One" has already rediscovered the knack for winning late.