Espí seals Mourinho’s winning Real Madrid return
Real Madrid began José Mourinho’s second spell in charge with a dramatic 2-1 victory at Espanyol on Saturday. Jude Bellingham opened the scoring in the ninth minute, heading in Arda Güler’s cross, but Álex Calatrava equalised for the hosts shortly after the half-hour mark. Espanyol defended their position effectively and appeared set to secure a point until substitute Carlos Espí struck in the 90th minute. The 21-year-old forward, reportedly signed from Levante for €25 million, reacted quickest after Kylian Mbappé was dispossessed and finished beyond goalkeeper Marko Dmitrović. The result gave Madrid three points from their opening fixture.
Espanyol’s performance made the victory more demanding than the scoreline suggested, with Manolo González’s side recovering from an early setback and remaining competitive at the RCDE Stadium. Mourinho made several changes after half-time before introducing Espí in the 79th minute, and the substitute’s decisive contribution immediately strengthened the attention around Madrid’s summer signing. Mourinho said the win showed “soul”, resilience and strength from the bench, while acknowledging that Espanyol had fought well. Madrid therefore started the campaign with a valuable away victory, although the narrow margin highlighted the work required as Mourinho attempts to restore the club after two trophyless seasons.
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Barcelona register four summer signings before Elche opener
Barcelona registered Rodri, Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi and João Cancelo with La Liga before Sunday’s opening match at Elche. Rodri, Gordon and Adeyemi were inscribed on Friday, while Cancelo’s registration was completed on Saturday, making all four players available for Hansi Flick’s title defence. Rodri was unlikely to feature immediately as he continued building match sharpness after the World Cup. The registrations marked a smoother start to the campaign than Barcelona have experienced in recent years, when spending-limit issues delayed the eligibility of players including Jules Koundé and Dani Olmo. Barcelona have won the previous two La Liga titles and begin the new season away from home.
The completion of the process before the first fixture offered Barcelona an early indication that their financial position had improved, at least in relation to squad registration. Flick has a larger group to choose from, although the late return of several World Cup players was expected to affect his selection for the Elche match. Cancelo’s permanent return also gave the coach another established defensive option after two previous loan spells. Rodri’s gradual integration is likely to be handled carefully, but the immediate availability of the other newcomers removes a logistical complication that has repeatedly overshadowed Barcelona’s season starts.
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Real Betis complete €20 million Troy Parrott transfer
Real Betis completed a reported €20 million deal to sign Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott from AZ Alkmaar on Thursday. The 24-year-old became one of Betis’s principal attacking additions after the club moved decisively in the final stages of negotiations. According to The42, a reference involving goalkeeper Caoimhín Kelleher helped reinforce Betis’s view of Parrott’s character and ability before the agreement was finalised. Parrott had been one of several forwards under consideration, alongside names including Fabio Silva, Arnaud Kalimuendo and Santiago Giménez. His move followed two seasons in the Netherlands and placed him at a club preparing for Champions League football.
Spanish media reaction was strongly positive, with SPORT describing Parrott as a “saviour” and presenting him as the centre-forward Betis had sought for years. Those assessments reflect the club’s desire to address a longstanding weakness in attack, rather than simply add depth to the squad. Parrott’s previous record at AZ — 51 goals and 17 assists in 97 appearances, according to reports cited by football.london and AOL — explains why Betis made him their marquee forward signing. The transfer also generated a financial benefit for Tottenham, who were due about £3.4 million from a 20 per cent sell-on clause agreed when Parrott left for AZ in 2024.
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Betis begin La Liga campaign with narrow Real Sociedad win
Real Betis opened their La Liga campaign with a 1-0 victory over Real Sociedad on Friday. Riqui Riquelme scored the decisive goal in the 63rd minute, giving Betis three points in their first match of the new season. The result was reported alongside the opening wins for Arsenal and Marseille as Europe’s major domestic competitions resumed after the World Cup summer. Betis’s success came before the completion of their move for Troy Parrott, whose arrival was expected to strengthen an attack that the club considered a key area for improvement. The win gave Betis an early platform as they prepared for a demanding campaign that includes Champions League football.
The clean sheet and narrow margin made the result a controlled start rather than an emphatic statement, but the points were significant at a stage when squads were still adapting after an unusually late international tournament. Manuel Pellegrini’s side had to manage the challenge of beginning competitively while continuing to reshape the forward line. Riquelme’s second-half strike settled a match that remained goalless until the final half-hour and ensured Betis started among the early winners. Parrott’s subsequent arrival should give the club another central attacking option as the season develops, with Betis seeking greater consistency in front of goal.
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Sevilla reportedly target Chelsea striker Marc Guiu on loan
Sevilla were reportedly targeting a loan move for Chelsea striker Marc Guiu, according to Goal’s report citing Mundo Deportivo. The 20-year-old had lost his squad number at Stamford Bridge and was being considered as a possible addition to Sevilla’s forward line. The Andalusian club had already signed Scottish striker Robbie Ure but were still seeking another natural goalscorer before the transfer window closed. Guiu was identified as a prime target, with the proposed move intended to provide him with regular first-team football in Spain. He would compete with Ure and Isaac Romero for a place in Luis García’s attack if an agreement were reached.
The report placed the potential deal in the context of Sevilla’s effort to complete their attacking options rather than a confirmed transfer. García and sporting director José Ignacio Navarro were said to value Guiu’s profile and view a third striker as useful squad depth. Sevilla began their league campaign with a 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano, despite conceding early and finishing with ten men after Kike Salas’s late dismissal. Adding another forward would give the club more competition after that winning start, while a loan could offer Guiu a route to consistent senior football after his reduced status at Chelsea.
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