Real Madrid’s competitive debut under José Mourinho ended in dramatic fashion at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday, securing a 2-1 win over RCD Espanyol courtesy of a 90th-minute winner from debutant Carlos Espí. However, the post-match narrative quickly shifted from the pitch to another storm surrounding Vinícius Júnior.
From the opening minutes, the Brazilian winger found himself at the center of constant physical clashes with Espanyol players and verbal chants from the crowd.
The On-Pitch Flashpoints & Espanyol’s Social Media Jab
Friction flared early when Vinícius clashed with Espanyol goalscorer Álex Calatrava, resulting in yellow cards for both players in the 32nd minute.
The tension spiked in the second half when Vinícius went down inside the penalty area twice without a foul being awarded. Referee José María Sánchez Martínez opted against booking him for simulation, avoiding a second yellow card.
Espanyol took directly to social media during the match, posting:
“How many dives does it actually take to get a second yellow card? Asking for a friend.”
Former referee Iturralde González noted on Cadena SER that a second booking could have been justified, while former Espanyol player Calatrava maintained his challenge on Vinícius was strictly unintentional.
Courtois Hits Back: “Look in the Mirror”
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois pulled no punches when informed of Espanyol’s social media post in the mixed zone:
“Espanyol’s tweet? You should look in the mirror before talking about others. It’s easy to judge things only from your own perspective. I’d like to see whether these teams post the same tweets when they play against teams other than us.”
Courtois argued that Calatrava should have been sent off earlier for his challenge on Vinícius or a subsequent foul on Álvaro Carreras.
Mourinho: “Vini Is No Saint, But It’s Bullying”
In his post-match press conference, José Mourinho came to the defense of his star forward while addressing the psychological toll of the constant opposition focus:
“Vini is no saint, but what they do to him is too much. We live in a social era of anti-bullying. With Vini, we are still in the bullying phase—whether from opponents or from the crowd. We have to educate him as best we can and prepare him for it as best we can.”
Mourinho added that he advised Vinícius during the match to exercise caution with his celebrations and avoid reacting to crowd provocations.
The RMxtra Verdict
The opening match of the season confirms that opposition tactics against Vinícius will remain a central theme throughout the campaign. While Espanyol tried to disrupt Madrid’s rhythm, Courtois and Mourinho’s unified response shows the squad is ready to stand by their star winger as Los Blancos target maximum silverware.