Bellingham strikes as Real Madrid begin Mourinho era with win at Espanyol

Jude Bellingham scored Real Madrid’s first competitive goal of the season as they opened Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge with a 2-1 victory away to Espanyol.

The England midfielder produced an outstanding performance and put Real Madrid ahead before substitute Carlos Espi secured the points with a dramatic 90th-minute winner. The result gave Mourinho an encouraging start to his return to the Spanish club.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the match, Bellingham said his side had created enough opportunities to win, despite being made to work for the result.

“We played a very good game and created many chances to score a second goal,” he said.

Asked what had made the difference, the midfielder pointed to the attitude within the squad rather than any individual moment.

“I think the victory came thanks to our mentality and high morale,” he said.

Bellingham also praised Espi after the new arrival came off the bench to score the decisive goal late in the match. He compared the youngster with former Real Madrid forward Joselu, who became known for making an impact after being introduced as a substitute.

Bellingham described Espi as a “little Joselu”, a reference to the former Madrid player’s habit of scoring after starting matches on the bench.

The England international said the team’s togetherness had been central to their success at Espanyol and should remain a defining feature of their season.

“It is good that we started the game in this way. We are together in everything. For me, that is the most important thing in football: being united in every moment, whether things are going well or are difficult,” he added.

Bellingham explained that the winning move had been rehearsed in training during the week. He credited Arda for delivering the pass and said the movement of the other players created the space needed for him to finish.

“We worked on this play in training this week. It was a great pass from Arda, and the movement of the other players created space for me. It was a fairly easy goal,” he said.

For Bellingham, the performance represented a return to the kind of contribution he had been making over the previous two years, although this time his display also included a goal.

“Today I did what I have been doing for the past two years, but this time I scored a goal as well. When I score, everyone praises that,” he said.

However, the midfielder insisted that finding the net was only one part of his responsibility. He said his priority was to support Real Madrid in every area of the match, whether in possession, through his movement in deeper positions, in attack, by dribbling or while defending.

“For me, the most important thing is helping the team in every aspect of the game whether with the ball, in depth, in attack, through dribbling or defensively. Scoring a goal is always special, but the most important thing is helping the team,” Bellingham concluded.