Real Madrid Edge Espanyol 2-1 in Hard-Fought La Liga Opener

Real Madrid began their 2026-27 La Liga campaign with a grinding 2-1 away victory over RCD Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Sunday, August 23. The defending title challengers found themselves behind early, but responded with second-half quality to take all three points in Catalonia. The match, which kicked off at 03:30 local time, was a classic early-season test of patience and character for Carlo Ancelotti's side.

Espanyol Shock Madrid with Early Lead

Espanyol had done their homework. Playing with a compact low block and looking to strike quickly on the counter, the home side stunned Real Madrid in the opening 20 minutes. A flicked header from a corner found its way to the back post, where Javi Puado was waiting to bundle the ball over the line. The RCDE Stadium erupted, and suddenly Real Madrid were chasing the game.

Los Blancos controlled possession but lacked incision in the final third. Espanyol defended relentlessly, with central midfielders dropping in to snuff out passing lanes, and Madrid's early crosses were comfortably dealt with by a physical home defense.

Second-Half Fightback from Los Blancos

The turning point came just after the hour mark. Kylian Mbappé collected a pass on the left channel, cut inside, and unleashed a curling strike into the far corner to level the score. It was the goal that unlocked the match. Espanyol were forced to push higher, and Madrid began to find space between the lines.

The winner arrived in the 78th minute. Mbappé turned provider, sliding a reverse pass through to Jude Bellingham, whose composed finish beat the Espanyol goalkeeper at his near post. It was Bellingham's first goal of the new season and a perfect reward for his constant attacking runs from midfield.

Key Moments

• 17' - Goal Espanyol: Javi Puado scores from close range after a scrambled corner routine.
• 63' - Goal Real Madrid: Mbappé cuts in from the left and curls a superb equalizer into the top corner.
• 78' - Goal Real Madrid: Bellingham converts Mbappé's through-ball with a clinical near-post finish.
• 86' - Save: Thibaut Courtois denies Espanyol substitute Joselu with a strong one-on-one save to preserve the win.

Tactical Story

Ancelotti switched to a more fluid 4-4-2 in the second half, pushing Bellingham higher to support Mbappé and Vinícius Júnior. The move destabilized Espanyol's defensive block and gave Madrid the vertical threat they had missed earlier. Espanyol manager Manolo González will regret just how deep his side sat after taking the lead, but the quality gap ultimately told.

What This Means for Both Sides

Real Madrid kick off their season with three points and, perhaps more importantly, a demonstration of their resilience in a hostile away fixture. For Espanyol, the defeat will sting, but the performance suggests they will be competitive in their fight to establish themselves in La Liga after narrowly avoiding relegation last season. Their ability to trouble Madrid for long stretches gives genuine cause for optimism among the Periquito faithful.

The victory places Real Madrid early in the early season standings alongside other favorites, while Espanyol will quickly refocus on their next league test to bounce back and build momentum.