C. Espi’s 90th-minute goal gives Real Madrid a 2-1 win over Espanyol

Real Madrid came from an early lead and a first-half equaliser to defeat Espanyol 2-1 at RCDE Stadium on Saturday, August 22, 2026. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring, Álex Calatrava levelled before half-time, and C. Espi struck in the 90th minute to settle the La Liga regular-season meeting.

Bellingham gives Madrid an early lead

Real Madrid made the quicker start and took the lead in the ninth minute. Arda Güler supplied the assist for Bellingham, who registered the opening goal with a normal finish. The visitors controlled much of the ball in the opening period, using their 4-2-3-1 shape against Espanyol’s 4-4-2.

Espanyol responded in the 30th minute through Calatrava. Javier Hernández provided the assist, giving the home side an equaliser after a period in which Madrid had enjoyed the greater share of possession. The score remained 1-1 at half-time, with both sides having found the net from their main opportunities.

Late goal decides an even scoreline

The second half remained closely contested on the scoreboard, although Real Madrid continued to dictate the rhythm through possession. Madrid finished with 65% of the ball and completed 229 of 242 passes, compared with Espanyol’s 35% possession and 112 accurate passes from 129. The visitors also led total shots 6-5 and shots on target 5-2.

Those figures did not produce a comfortable result, however, and Espanyol stayed within reach despite having less of the ball. Madrid’s pressure finally told in the 90th minute when C. Espi scored the winning goal. No assist was recorded for the decisive finish, which completed the 2-1 result.

Cards and changes shape the closing stages

Vinicius Junior and Calatrava were booked in the 32nd minute, shortly after Espanyol’s equaliser. C. Riedel received a yellow card in the 59th minute, while Exposito was cautioned in the 84th. The closing minute brought further bookings for P. Milla and P. Lozano, adding a disciplinary edge to the final stages.

Real Madrid made two changes in the 64th minute, replacing M. Cucurella with A. Carreras and Y. Diomande with Güler. Espanyol also altered its lineup, bringing on V. Drkusic and R. Bauza in the 66th minute, followed by P. Lozano and P. Milla in the 75th.

Bellingham leads the ratings

Bellingham was the standout performer, receiving a match rating of 7.7. He scored once, produced one shot on target and added one key pass, while also making two tackles. Güler was rated 7.2 after supplying an assist and creating two key passes, while Calatrava’s goal helped earn him a 7.3 rating for Espanyol.

The supplied standings list Espanyol third with three points from one game and a goal difference of three, while Real Madrid are listed 14th with zero points from zero games. The result gives Madrid a winning start in this completed fixture, while Espanyol’s listed position reflects their earlier table entry despite the defeat. Espanyol had entered the match with a recent win recorded; no recent form data was available for Madrid.