Mourinho survives the first battle: Real Madrid's old problems return to the fore
Jose Mourinho secured a narrow 2-1 victory in his first match back as Real Madrid manager against Espanyol. Despite the win, the team displayed recurring defensive vulnerabilities that have persisted over the past two seasons.
Why it matters
Real Madrid's defensive instability remains a critical concern for the club's long-term success under new management.
Mourinho survives the first battle: Real Madrid's old problems return to the surface FEATURES Analysis Espanyol vs Real Madrid Espanyol Real Madrid LaLiga J. Mourinho C. Espi Spain Portugal Brazil England 3 points with a taste of anxiety!
Jose Mourinho kicked off his second spell in charge of Real Madrid with a late 2-1 win over Espanyol on Saturday. He has yet to provide the answers the club's fans are waiting for, though. Some of the problems that dogged Los Blancos over the past two seasons resurfaced at the RCDE Stadium.
Bellingham struck early in Mourinho's first official match at the helm, putting Real Madrid ahead in the ninth minute. Espanyol hit back around 20 minutes later through Alex Calatrava, before new signing Carlos Espi settled it with a goal in the dying seconds.
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