Substitute Carlos Espí's last-minute winner ensured Jose Mourinho made a winning start in his first game back as Real Madrid boss as his side clinched a 2-1 win at Espanyol in their opening LaLiga match.

Jude Bellingham's early header at the RCDE Stadium gave Mourinho a dream start, but Alex Calatrava fired a first-half equaliser and Real appeared set to be denied before Espí's late close-range finish.

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Mourinho returned for his second spell as Real head coach in June, 13 years after his first stint ended by mutual agreement, and he was made to sweat for all three points.

Espanyol, who finished 11th in the table last season under Manolo Gonzalez, defended doggedly and rode their luck before Espí marked his Real debut with the match-winning goal after his summer switch from Levante.

Bellingham ensured a flying start for Mourinho as he gave Real a ninth-minute lead, heading home Arda Güler's brilliant free-kick after outjumping the home defence.

Espanyol's German defender Clemens Riedel then produced a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Kylian Mbappé at the far post.

But following a break in play to address a cut above Real defender Dean Huijsen's left eye, Espanyol regathered and were rewarded for some neat build-up play when Calatrava buried Javi Hernandez's cut-back for a 30th-minute equaliser.

Espanyol fans raised the stadium roof in celebration before Mbappé was twice denied by home goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic, who saved the Frenchman's first effort with his legs and kept out another low shot.

The home supporters looked on in disbelief when Roberto Fernández fluffed his header in front of a gaping goal in first-half stoppage time and their side came under heavy pressure at the start of the second.

Dmitrovic produced a flying save to keep out another Bellingham header from Güler's corner and Mbappé headed the rebound narrowly wide with the goal at his mercy.

Real defender Ibrahima Konaté headed straight at Dmitrovic and Mbappé blazed a free-kick off target as the visitors maintained the pressure.

Ivory Coast winger Yan Diomande, who joined Real from Leipzig earlier this month in a deal which could rise to £120million, made his debut as a second-half replacement for Güler in the 64th minute.

Mbappe and Denzel Dumfries both had shots blocked and Federico Valverde's blistering shot from outside the box hit a post.

Espanyol appeared to have rode the storm, but in the final minute Espí, an 80th-minute replacement for Bellingham, slammed home a loose ball from close range after Mbappé had been crowded out in the box.