Mourinho's New Era at Real Madrid Begins with Injury Challenges

A new season, a familiar glare of expectation – and a very different face on the Real Madrid bench.

José Mourinho’s second spell in charge of Los Blancos begins this weekend with an opening-day trip to RCD Espanyol, and on Friday the club confirmed the squad that will travel to the RCDE Stadium. The list says plenty about where Madrid stand heading into 2026/27.

Mourinho’s Madrid hit by early injury blows

The Portuguese coach walks back into La Liga with a squad already patched together. Several key names are unavailable long-term: Rodrygo, Éder Militão and Raúl Asencio have all been ruled out, stripping Madrid of firepower in attack and experience at the back.

The problems don’t stop there. Two more high-profile absentees jump off the page.

Aurélien Tchouaméni and Endrick have both been left out of the travelling party, with recent fitness issues convincing the staff not to gamble on them for Saturday’s curtain-raiser. No risks, not on day one. Mourinho begins his new project without his cornerstone midfielder and one of the most talked-about young forwards in world football.

For a coach who thrives on control, this is a tricky starting hand.

Door opens for academy hopefuls

Injuries at Real Madrid rarely just create gaps. They create opportunities.

With several senior options unavailable, Mourinho has turned to Valdebebas. Academy talents Mario Rivas, Jorge Cestero and Alexis Ciria have all been handed call-ups for the Espanyol clash, a clear signal that the new regime is willing to lean on the club’s youth pipeline from the very first matchday.

For those three, it’s a chance to impress under one of the game’s most demanding managers. For Mourinho, it’s an early test of depth and adaptability before the season has even found its rhythm.

Real Madrid arrive in Barcelona bruised, short of key names, but carrying fresh energy from their academy. Mourinho’s second era starts not with a full-strength statement, but with a juggling act. How quickly he turns this makeshift group into a ruthless machine will shape far more than just opening day.