Bellingham fires Real Madrid to winning start at Espanyol

Real Madrid arrived at Cornellà with intent and left with three points after a contest that swung decisively in the opening nine minutes. Espanyol, seeking a strong start to their La Liga campaign, found themselves immediately on the back foot when Bellingham struck to give the visitors an early lead that would ultimately decide the match.

The English midfielder's ninth-minute opener set the tone for what followed. Espanyol rallied considerably and found their way back into the game when Á. Calatrava equalised in the 30th minute, suggesting a tense battle might develop toward a draw. Real Madrid, however, had other ideas. They restored their advantage before half-time, reclaiming control of a match that had briefly tilted toward the home side's favour.

The second half saw Real Madrid manage the game with the assurance of visitors holding a lead rather than pressing for further goals. Espanyol never quite mounted the sustained pressure needed to force another breakthrough. Where they had shown composure in levelling the score, they lacked the cutting edge to build on that momentum once Real Madrid reset their shape.

Both teams remained competitive throughout, but Real Madrid's superior quality in transition proved decisive. Espanyol's play was organised and their commitment evident, yet they rarely troubled the visitors' backline with the same consistency that Real Madrid demonstrated going forward. The Spanish side's chances were limited and largely came from set pieces rather than open play.

Cautions issued to both Vinícius Jr. and Calatrava in the 32nd minute kept the contest properly contested without descending into petulance. A third yellow card, shown to C. Riedel in the 59th minute, underlined that Espanyol's physical approach had tightened but failed to yield dividends. Real Madrid's away win leaves them perfectly positioned after matchday one, while Espanyol will need to find more penetration if they are to threaten the title contenders this season.