Espanyol almost spoils Mourinho's return

Cornellà de LlobregatWhen he came out of the dressing room tunnel towards the bench, more than thirty photographers focused on José Mourinho. He was the man of the day: 13 years later he was returning to manage Real Madrid in an official match. The blame lies with 20 months without titles and a dressing room turned into a henhouse. Many fewer flashes photographed Manolo González, the main supporter of Àlex Calatrava, the young Barcelonian who seven years ago worked early mornings at Primark while playing for Parets in Primera Catalana and who yesterday almost spoiled the Portuguese coach's return to the League. The young Carlos Espí prevented it in the 90th minute with a saving goal for the Madridistas, who are starting this second spell with the Setúbal coach on the bench on the right foot (1-2).One of the tasks that Florentino has entrusted to the new coach is to fit Vinícius and Mbappé on the pitch, who at Madrid seem like oil and water. In Cornellà, on the Portuguese's debut, both were starters. Bellingham too, who arrived four days ago from vacation and who was one of the big surprises in the starting eleven. The Englishman immediately justified the coach's decision: before the 10th minute he connected with a header to make it 1-0 after a great free-kick from Arda Güler.Driven by the energy of the British midfielder and Valverde, Mourinho's new Madrid began its new era like a bullet. If it weren't for Clemens Riedel, who cleared a ball off the line, and Dmitrovic, with another saving foot, Espanyol would have reached minute 21, magical at Cornellà-El Prat, with the match decided. It was a mirage. A distant shot from Riedel and a deflected header from Roberto lifted the parakeets off the canvas, who are rebels at heart and who needed very little to believe in a comeback.In the longest possession of the home team, Javi Hernández accelerated an action inside the box and, just as last week he served the 2-0 to Roberto, last night he assisted Cala for the equalizer. The Barcelonian, who just last week debuted in the First Division, shot with soul to debut in the League and score a goal against Courtois, the best goalkeeper in the world. Dreams sometimes come true. The day all the international press was focused on famous people like Mbappé, Vinícius, and Mourinho, Cala managed to shine with his own light, demonstrating that, in life, dreams can often come true.

The triumph of work

The Madrid's defensive seams were visible, with the team fielding two new players in defense: the Dutchman Dumfries and former Liverpool player Konaté. Lacking attacking fluidity, José Mourinho once again found the visit to the Cornellà-El Prat stadium, the stadium where he lost the League to Barça in 2013, a difficult one. Back then, he didn't have Jude Bellingham, who, from a corner, once again from a set piece, almost scored the second at the start of the second half. Luckily, Dmitrovic's hand and the crossbar prevented another goal from the Englishman, who continues his streak after a great World Cup.

The minutes ticked by, and the television cameras focused on the bench of a Madrid team physically exhausted on the grass, lacking rhythm. The Portuguese reacted by bringing on the Catalan Cucurella, with a past at Espanyol and applauded by the local fans, and Diomande, the most expensive footballer in the history of the Madrid club. Neither they, nor Kilian Mbappé, nor Vinícius Junior, nor Jude Bellingham, who hit the post, were able to break the draw... until minute 90, when Carlos Espí appeared to score the final 1-2 and frustrate Cala's great night, who was on the verge of souring José Mourinho's return.