Mourinho's 2-1 LaLiga return marked by sprint over new rule at Madrid

Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid began with a 2-1 LaLiga victory over Espanyol, but his late touchline sprint became one of the match’s most discussed moments. The result placed Madrid fifth with three points after one match, while Real Sociedad sit 16th without a point.

Madrid were protecting their narrow advantage when Denzel Dumfries delayed a throw-in. As referee José María Sánchez began the countdown, Mourinho moved quickly from his technical area towards the Netherlands international and urged him to restart play.

The manager’s intervention followed a rule change introduced at the start of the season in Europe’s leading leagues. Players now face a five-second limit when restarting play from set-pieces, including throw-ins. If the countdown ends before play resumes, possession is awarded to the opposing team.

That possibility explained Mourinho’s urgency as Real Madrid attempted to preserve their lead. His reaction to the winning goal was far more restrained, consisting of a clenched fist before he walked along the touchline.

The match marked Mourinho’s second spell in charge of Madrid, 13 years after his first tenure. He returned after a difficult previous season, with the club expected to close the gap on Barcelona, who have won the last two domestic titles.

Madrid’s recent form had included wins over Leganes, Athletic Club, Sevilla FC and Oviedo, alongside a defeat by Barcelona. Real Sociedad’s preceding five results were victories against Aston Villa and Wolves, draws with Racing Santander and Espanyol, and a loss to Pau FC. Their next listed LaLiga fixture is against Madrid on 26 August.