Real Madrid began their La Liga campaign with three important points, but their narrow victory over Espanyol raised almost as many questions as it answered.
The Spanish giants survived a difficult night away from home, eventually securing a 2-1 win thanks to a dramatic late strike from new signing Carlos Espi. Jude Bellingham had opened the scoring early, but Espanyol fought back through Calatrava before Espi came off the bench in the 90th minute to settle the contest.
While the result will please José Mourinho, the individual performances across the Real Madrid squad were far from consistent. Some players made strong impressions, while others struggled to influence the game.
Courtois Reliable as Dumfries Makes His Mark
Thibaut Courtois was once again a dependable presence between the posts. Although he conceded Espanyol’s equaliser, there was little he could do to prevent the goal. For the rest of the match, the Belgian goalkeeper remained alert and dealt confidently with everything that came his way.
Denzel Dumfries, meanwhile, enjoyed an encouraging competitive debut for Madrid. The Dutchman regularly looked dangerous going forward and appeared to have the upper hand over Trent Alexander-Arnold in several moments.
However, there was still room for improvement. Dumfries could have done more to prevent Espanyol’s equaliser and will know that his defensive work must become sharper as the season progresses.
Ibrahima Konaté also made his first competitive appearance for Madrid and offered a composed and disciplined display at the heart of the defence.
Huijsen Solid, but Valverde Struggles Out of Position
Dean Huijsen kept things simple and effective at the back. He avoided unnecessary risks and helped Madrid maintain their defensive structure during a match in which Espanyol repeatedly threatened to turn the game in their favour.
Álvaro Carreras also made sensible decisions defensively, although his contribution going forward was limited.
The biggest disappointment in midfield was Federico Valverde. Mourinho deployed the Uruguayan in a deeper defensive midfield role, but the position appeared to restrict one of his biggest strengths: his ability to burst forward from midfield.
Valverde looked almost anonymous for long stretches and was unable to provide the driving runs that have become such an important part of his game.
Bernardo Silva was asked to operate as Madrid’s creative midfielder and tried to provide an attacking spark. However, the role did not appear to suit him naturally, and he struggled to exert the kind of influence expected from a player of his quality.
Güler Shines Before Becoming Mourinho’s Sacrifice
Arda Güler was arguably one of Madrid’s brightest players before being substituted.
Starting on the right side, the Turkish youngster looked confident and involved himself in Madrid’s attacking moves. His most important contribution came early in the match when he delivered the cross that allowed Bellingham to open the scoring.
Güler’s performance made his eventual substitution particularly surprising.
Mourinho decided to bring him off and introduce Yan Diomande, effectively sacrificing one of Madrid’s more creative players in order to reshape the team. It was a tactical decision that may have been necessary, but Güler’s display suggested he deserved to remain on the pitch.
Bellingham Takes His Chance
Jude Bellingham was something of a surprise starter, considering he had only completed limited training ahead of the game.
Mourinho’s gamble paid off almost immediately.
The England international opened the scoring in the ninth minute, arriving at the right moment to convert Güler’s excellent delivery. He later came close to adding another goal and continued battling despite visibly tiring as the match wore on.
Eventually, Bellingham’s energy levels dropped, but his contribution was decisive. Given the circumstances surrounding his selection, it was an impressive way to begin the campaign.
Vinicius Junior Struggles to Influence the Game
Perhaps the most concerning aspect of Madrid’s performance was the lack of influence from Vinicius Junior.
The Brazilian is normally one of the team’s most dangerous attacking outlets, capable of changing a match with his pace, dribbling and direct running. Against Espanyol, however, he struggled to impose himself and was largely absent from the decisive moments.
With Madrid relying heavily on individual brilliance in attack, Vinicius’ quiet display stood out.
The Brazilian will have better games, but Mourinho will want to find a way to bring him more consistently into matches, particularly when opponents sit deep and deny him space to run into.
A Win That Leaves Questions
Real Madrid got exactly what they wanted from their opening league fixture: three points.
But the performance was anything but straightforward. Bellingham stepped up despite limited preparation, Güler showed flashes of real quality before being sacrificed, while Dumfries and Konaté made encouraging competitive debuts.
At the same time, Valverde struggled in an unfamiliar role and Vinicius failed to make the impact Madrid usually expect from him.
Carlos Espi’s late winner ultimately rescued the night and gave Mourinho a perfect start in terms of the result. Yet if Madrid are to compete for major honours this season, the Portuguese manager will need to find the right balance between his tactical demands and the individual strengths of his star players.
