A 90th-Minute Twist Sends Real Madrid Away With All Three Points
Real Madrid needed a dramatic late winner from substitute Carlos Espi to beat Espanyol 2-1 at the RCDE Stadium and begin their La Liga campaign with three points. Jude Bellingham gave Los Blancos an early lead in the ninth minute, rising to head home Arda Guler’s cross. Espanyol, however, responded strongly and Alex Calatrava levelled the contest around the half-hour mark. Real Madrid dominated possession and created several chances but struggled to find a breakthrough, with Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior unable to make their opportunities count. Just when the match appeared destined for a draw, Espi struck in the 90th minute, pouncing on a loose ball after Mbappe was dispossessed to seal a dramatic victory for Jose Mourinho’s side.
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, right, vies for the ball Espanyol's Roger Hinojo during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, left, duels for the ball with Espanyol's Quilindschy Hartman during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe, center, duels for the ball with Espanyol's Urko Gonzalez de Zarate during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham scores his side's first goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, right, vies for the ball with Espanyol's Quilindschy Hartman during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Espanyol's Alex Calatrava, left, celebrates with his teammate Espanyol's Edu Exposito after scoring his side's first goal during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, right, duels for the ball with Espanyol's Clemens Riedel during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
Espanyol's Urko Gonzalez de Zarate, center, duels for the balls with Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham during a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Real Madrid in Barcelona, Spain. | Photo: AP/Joan Monfort
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