Back After 13 Years: Mourinho Faces an Old Demon at Espanyol

Thirteen years later, José Mourinho returns to face Espanyol for the first official match of his new spell at Real Madrid, at the RCDE Stadium, a ground that brings back a particularly frustrating memory. It was against the Pericos that Mourinho’s Real Madrid mathematically handed the 2012/13 La Liga title to FC Barcelona.

On May 11, 2013, Real Madrid travelled to Cornellà-El Prat with only a slim chance of delaying Barcelona’s title celebrations. Mourinho’s men absolutely had to win to remain mathematically in the race.

However, Espanyol quickly made life difficult for the visitors. Christian Stuani opened the scoring, before Gonzalo Higuaín equalised shortly before the hour mark. Cristiano Ronaldo came off the bench as Real Madrid pushed for a winner, but the visitors were unable to break through again. The match ended 1-1.

That draw was obviously not the sole reason Real Madrid lost the championship. Barcelona had already built a comfortable lead and the title was virtually secured. Nevertheless, the result in Cornellà made it official: with only two matches remaining and a seven-point deficit, Real Madrid could no longer catch Barcelona. The Catalans were officially crowned Spanish champions.

For Mourinho, the game came during the final weeks of a first spell at the Bernabéu that was already approaching its conclusion. Several important players were rested ahead of the Copa del Rey final against Atlético Madrid, and the Portuguese coach would leave Real Madrid only a few weeks later.

The Special One begins a new mission

Thirteen years later, the calendar has produced an interesting coincidence: Mourinho begins his second spell with Real Madrid against the very same opponent.

This time, however, the context is completely different. Mourinho has returned with a heavily reshaped squad and a new mission: restoring Real Madrid to the top of Spanish and European football.

During his first press conference since returning, the Special One immediately set the tone. Calmer in his communication but still extremely demanding, Mourinho emphasised collective responsibility, commitment and hard work. Players unhappy with their playing time will have to respond on the training ground.

🚨 L'effectif du Real Madrid est assez bon pour tenter de GAGNER TOUS LES TROPHÉES cette saison, d'après José Mourinho et le club. ✅⚔️

⚡️ Chaque poste est couvert par au moins DEUX joueurs.@MarioCortegana pic.twitter.com/clD3QM08qN

— RMadrid actu 🇫🇷 (@RMadrid_actu) August 22, 2026

Above all, Mourinho understands the expectations surrounding Real Madrid. A season without silverware cannot be considered successful for a club of this magnitude. After two campaigns without a major trophy, his objective is clear: rebuild a winning mentality and bring trophies back to Madrid.

The trip to Barcelona will also provide the first real indication of Mourinho’s tactical choices in competitive action. Pre-season offered several clues, but the intensity and pressure of La Liga will provide a far more reliable assessment of his new project.

Espanyol, meanwhile, already have momentum. The Pericos opened their campaign with an impressive 3-0 victory over Levante, with Roberto Fernández scoring twice.

Mourinho therefore faces several immediate challenges: implementing his tactical principles, managing injuries, integrating the new signings and, above all, collecting three points.

Thirteen years after leaving Cornellà with a draw that officially crowned Barcelona champions, Mourinho returns to begin a completely new chapter. The memories of 2013 belong to the past; tonight, only the first result of the new Mourinho era will matter.