Calatrava ends Espanyol’s long wait for a first La Liga goal against Real Madrid

Alex Calatrava scored his first La Liga goal for Espanyol against Real Madrid on Saturday, becoming the club’s first player in almost 32 years to open his top-flight account against the Spanish giants.

The midfielder struck in the 30th minute to bring Espanyol level in the opening-round fixture after Real Madrid had taken an early lead through Jude Bellingham.

Calatrava’s goal was significant both for Espanyol and the player himself. It was his first in La Liga, while also placing him in a rare piece of the club’s history: he is now the latest Espanyol player to score his first goal in Spain’s top division against Real Madrid.

The previous player to achieve the same feat was Bulgarian forward Velko Iotov, who scored his first La Liga goal for Espanyol against Real Madrid on 15 October 1994, according to statistics published by Mister Chip.

The sequence of events means Espanyol had waited more than three decades for another player to begin his La Liga scoring record against Real Madrid.

A post from the statistics account on social media highlighted the comparison between the two players:

ESP 1-1 RMA (30′) – Alex Calatrava ha marcado su primer gol en La Liga contra el Real Madrid. El ultimo jugador perico que se estreno como goleador en la maxima categoria contra el conjunto blanco fue el bulgaro Velko Iotov, el 15.10.1994.pic.twitter.com/Di9IiV3TUW

Calatrava’s equaliser cancelled out Bellingham’s opener, which had arrived only nine minutes after kick-off. The England midfielder’s early strike gave Real Madrid an advantage at the start of the match and was scored at the beginning of Jose Mourinho’s second spell as manager.

For Calatrava, the goal provided a notable first in La Liga on a stage that made the moment even more memorable. Rather than simply recording his first league goal, he joined a select group of Espanyol players whose first top-flight strike came against Real Madrid.

Iotov had been the last Espanyol player connected with that unusual landmark. His goal more than three decades earlier, on 15 October 1994, remained the most recent example until Calatrava found the net in Saturday’s opening-round meeting.

The game therefore produced an early landmark for Espanyol despite the focus on Real Madrid’s start under Mourinho. Bellingham’s quick breakthrough was followed by Calatrava’s equaliser, ensuring that the visitors’ early lead did not last and giving the Espanyol midfielder a place in the club’s statistical history.