Mourinho’s Second Coming in Barcelona Cauldron
Real Madrid start their new La Liga season on hostile ground on Saturday evening, walking into the RCDE Stadium with a patched-up squad and a heavyweight target on their backs. Across the touchline, Espanyol wait with confidence and a 3-0 opening‑day win already in their pocket.
This is not just any opener for Madrid. It is Jose Mourinho’s first official match since returning to the club, a second spell charged with expectation and scrutiny. The Portuguese coach steps back into Spanish football not at the Bernabéu, not with a lap of honour, but in a tricky away fixture against a side already up to speed.
Espanyol Flying, But Missing Key Pieces
Espanyol’s mood is buoyant. They dismantled Levante 3-0 on the first weekend, the kind of result that sharpens belief and turns a home crowd into a weapon. Madrid arrive as favourites, but the home dressing room will not see it that way.
They do have absences of their own. Cabrera is suspended, while Javi Puado and Kike Garcia are out injured. Three important names gone from the teamsheet, three gaps to plug against a frontline stacked with star power.
Yet the tone around Espanyol is upbeat. A big win to start, a giant coming to town, and a chance to turn early momentum into something more serious.
Madrid’s Injury List Bites Hard
For Mourinho, the problems run deeper. The list of unavailable players is long and painful for a coach who likes control.
Mendy, Asensio, Militao, Tchouameni, Thiago Pitarch, Rodrygo and Endrick are all sidelined with physical issues. That cluster of absences cuts through every line of the team: defence, midfield, attack.
The situation has forced Mourinho to look down the ladder. Three academy players – Mario Rivas, Cestero and Alexis Ceria – have been promoted to bolster the squad. It is a reminder that even at Real Madrid, with their star names and global reach, seasons can hinge on the depth beyond the first XI.
Star-Studded XI Despite the Setbacks
Despite the injuries, the expected starting lineup reported by Spanish newspaper Marca still looks frightening on paper.
Courtois is set to start in goal, shielded by a back line of Arnold, Konate, Huijsen and Carreras. In midfield, Valverde brings legs and drive, with Bernardo Silva and Brahim Diaz offering craft and control between the lines.
Ahead of them, the talent spikes. Arda Guler, Vinicius and Kylian Mbappe form a front line that can rip open any defence in Europe. Even with so many absentees, Madrid do not turn up light.
This is the paradox of the club under Mourinho’s new reign: a squad stretched by injuries, yet still capable of fielding an XI that looks built for a Champions League night rather than a domestic opener.
Title Revenge on Mourinho’s Mind
The mission is clear. Madrid want their La Liga crown back after watching Barcelona lift the trophy in each of the last two seasons. That stings. Mourinho knows it, the dressing room knows it, and every away ground they visit this year will sense that urgency.
Espanyol have their own agenda. They want to prove that the Levante win was no early-season mirage, that they can take points off one of the title favourites and turn a good start into a statement.
A coach returning to his old empire. A giant chasing redemption. A home side riding a wave. The new La Liga campaign for Real Madrid doesn’t ease in gently; it starts under floodlights, under pressure, and with very little margin for error.
