Substitute Espi snatches last-gasp winner in Real Madrid LaLiga opener
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BARCELONA, Aug 22 : Real Madrid’s LaLiga start had all the makings of an opening-night stumble until substitute Carlo Espi struck with impeccable timing, firing home in the 90th minute to seal a dramatic 2-1 win at Espanyol on Saturday.
Real had appeared on course for a smooth ride when Jude Bellingham rose highest to send a header inside the near post in the ninth minute from Arda Guler’s teasing cross.
Espanyol refused to wilt, however, and levelled on the half-hour when the unmarked Alex Calatrava finished beyond goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after Javi Hernandez slipped into the area and squared the ball.
Real coach Jose Mourinho made several changes after halftime in a bid to break the deadlock and it was Espi, brought on 10 minutes from time, who pounced on a loose ball after Kylian Mbappe was dispossessed and smashed it into the net.
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“I believe that it must be hard for Espanyol to digest this loss. They fought, played well and held on until really late in the match but I think we deserved the win,” Mourinho told reporters.
“It was a win with soul, with resiliency, with the strength we have from the bench. I’m happy with the hunger the players showed coming from the bench, that is what we need.”
Real Madrid’s new Mourinho era was heading for an awkward first-night wobble until Espi, a close-season signing from Levante, smashed in the winner.
There was heavy anticipation around Mourinho’s return to the club after Real spent big in the transfer window, trying to build a squad capable of dethroning Barcelona, champions for the past two seasons while their bitter rivals went trophyless.
POLISHED START
The start, at least, looked polished. Guler assisted Bellingham to give the visitors an early lead.
Guler and Bellingham provided Real’s brightest moments in the first half, swapping positions in midfield, exchanging passes and sharing the responsibility of giving Mourinho’s side rhythm and direction.
But Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior struggled to ignite after returning late after their post-World Cup holidays, with both showing flashes of intent but lacking sharpness and chemistry.
Espanyol took advantage of Real’s lack of sharpness up front and equalised, suddenly bringing the visitors memories of a nightmarish last two seasons in which everything seemed to go the other way.
Mourinho introduced new signings Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande after halftime as Real pushed for a winner.
Federico Valverde struck a post from inside the area in the 78th minute after Espanyol’s Marko Dmitrovic denied Bellingham with a one-handed save, but the decisive touch came from Espi, the 21-year-old Spaniard brought on with 10 minutes remaining.
It was a timely reward for Mourinho’s gamble in reshaping his attacking options, having allowed Gonzalo Garcia to leave for Fulham before bringing in Espi, a tall, powerful striker offering Real a different profile.
For Madrid, it was not quite the smooth beginning under the returning Portuguese coach that they may have imagined.
But three points, a late winner and a new striker making an instant impact gave Mourinho a useful cushion as he begins the task of moulding Real’s glittering collection of talent into a well-functioning team that can challenge for the title.
Source: Reuters
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