RCD Espanyol vs Real Madrid CF

Real Madrid survived a scare on the opening weekend of the season, needing a stoppage-time goal to see off Espanyol 1-2 at the RCDE Stadium. It looked routine early on, but the hosts made Madrid work for every point before a late twist settled things. Jude Bellingham put the visitors ahead in the 9th minute, heading home a cross from Arda Güler. Espanyol hit back through Cala in the 30th minute after a cutback from Javi Hernández, leveling things at the break and beyond. Kylian Mbappé was denied twice by keeper Marko Dmitrovic, but it was substitute Carlos Espí who settled it, firing in the winner in the 90th minute just ten minutes after coming off the bench. For Real Madrid, it's the kind of gritty, backs-against-the-wall win that sets a tone early in the campaign, with several new faces getting valuable minutes in the win. Espanyol, despite a spirited display and a share of the game for long stretches, leave empty-handed and will need to tighten up defensively to turn performances like this into points.