Real Madrid will play Espanyol away at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday, August 22, in their first match under manager Jose Mourinho.
The fixture marks the start of a new competitive campaign for Real Madrid as Mourinho takes charge of his first official game of the 2026-27 LaLiga season. Supporters hold high expectations for the team to open the domestic league schedule with a victory in Catalonia.
Along with established forward Kylian Mbappe and winger Vinicius Junior, Madrid are expected to grant playing time to several new signings. Summer additions Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande could all feature during the match.
Match kickoff times and television broadcast
The encounter between Espanyol and Real Madrid forms part of the second round of fixtures in the 2026-27 LaLiga season. In Peru, Colombia and Ecuador, kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. local time on Saturday.
Broadcast schedules confirm the match will begin at 1:30 p.m. in Mexico, 3:30 p.m. in Bolivia, Chile and Venezuela, and 4:30 p.m. in Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. Viewers in Spain can watch the game at 9:30 p.m. CET.
Live television coverage will be transmitted by DSports, the official channel holding broadcast rights for LaLiga. Free digital coverage will also be provided online by La Republica Deportes, featuring live minute-by-minute updates throughout the game.
Head to head record and past results
Real Madrid enter the match having won four of their previous five LaLiga fixtures against Espanyol. In their most recent league meeting on May 3, 2026, Real Madrid earned a 2-0 victory away at Espanyol.
That result followed a 2-0 home victory for Real Madrid on September 20, 2025. Espanyol last defeated Real Madrid on February 1, 2025, securing a 1-0 home win in LaLiga EA Sports.
Real Madrid also claimed victories in the two preceding fixtures between the sides. They defeated Espanyol 4-1 at home on September 21, 2024, after recording a 3-1 home win on March 11, 2023.
Club context and team news
Real Madrid are one of Spain's most decorated football clubs, competing in LaLiga, the top tier of Spanish football. Espanyol, based in Barcelona, host their home matches at the RCDE Stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, Catalonia.
Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning a LaLiga title during his earlier tenure in the Spanish capital. Both clubs are completing their final training sessions ahead of Saturday's opening fixture.
