Mourinho condemns ‘systemic’ fouling of Vinicius as Real Madrid win late at Espanyol

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho criticised what he described as the “systemic” fouling of Vinicius Junior after his side began his second spell in charge with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Espanyol in La Liga.

Substitute Carlos Espi scored in the 90th minute to settle a closely fought opening match of the season, after Jude Bellingham had put Real Madrid ahead and Alex Calatrava had equalised for the hosts.

“I think that we deserved to win but that Espanyol didn’t deserve to lose,” Mourinho told reporters.

“They didn’t have any players at the World Cup and have been working together for a long time, and you could see that.”

Mourinho returned to Real Madrid 13 years after leaving the club and has been tasked with restoring order following the turmoil of last season, while also trying to end Barcelona’s dominance of Spanish football.

The Portuguese began with a formidable starting line-up featuring Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Bellingham. New arrivals Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konate were also handed their competitive debuts.

Bellingham, who joined Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund and impressed during his first season, has endured two less successful campaigns since then. Neither the England midfielder nor the club won a major trophy in either of those seasons.

Mourinho positioned Bellingham in an attacking midfield role and gave him freedom to move forward. The former Birmingham City player was influential throughout the opening stages before giving his side the lead.

He headed in a dangerous free-kick delivered by Arda Guler to score the first goal of Mourinho’s second era at Real Madrid.

Espanyol responded with a spell of pressure midway through the first half. Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denied Clemens Riedel with a strong save, before Roberto Fernandez sent an effort over the crossbar.

The warning went unheeded, however, and Espanyol drew level in the 30th minute. Calatrava finished a well-worked move by converting Javi Hernandez’s cut-back.

Real Madrid had chances to regain the lead. Marko Dmitrovic made an important save from Mbappe after the France forward had broken into the area from the right.

Mbappe, La Liga’s leading scorer in each of his two seasons at Real Madrid, was unable to produce his usual decisiveness in front of goal.

Vinicius Junior also struggled to influence the game from the left wing, although he repeatedly won free-kicks as Espanyol players sought to limit his impact.

“Vini is not a saint, but what they do to him is too much, it started in the first minute, I think it’s something systemic, it’s done in a systemic way,” said Mourinho.

“First I hack him, then you, then me, then you, if I get a yellow then you do it. I have a yellow so I go off, and someone comes on without a yellow… it’s frustrating for him.”

Mourinho introduced record signing Yan Diomande and Marc Cucurella during the final 25 minutes as Real Madrid pushed for a winner.

Federico Valverde struck the outside of the post with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area, while Espanyol defended resolutely to prevent the visitors from creating clear openings.

Real Madrid finally found the decisive goal in the 90th minute. Espi, a former Levante striker and the least prominent of the club’s summer signings, reacted quickest to a loose ball in the penalty area and fired home.

“We carried out our plan well and then let in that goal at the end,” said Calatrava.

“That we conceded was a gut-punch, because we worked hard until the end.”

Earlier on Saturday, Sevilla won 3-1 away to Athletic Bilbao, while Valencia and Celta Vigo played out a goalless draw.

Spanish champions Barcelona begin their season at Elche on Sunday, with Atletico Madrid hosting Villarreal later the same day.