Mourinho decries alleged bullying of Vinicius in Real’s win at Espanyol

What the report says

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho condemned what he described as bullying of Vinicius Junior after Madrid’s 2-1 opening La Liga win at Espanyol, reported by Al Jazeera on 23 August 2026. The Brazilian winger was repeatedly targeted with physical pressure early in the match in Cornella de Llobregat, Spain, prompting protests from Real’s players when a foul by Espanyol’s Alex Calatrava was not punished with a red card.

According to the report, the incident set the tone for a tense game in which Real felt Vinicius was singled out from the start. Calatrava later scored Espanyol’s equaliser after Jude Bellingham had put Real ahead, before late substitute Carlo Espi netted a 90th-minute winner for the visitors. Mourinho said the treatment of Vinicius was part of a repeated pattern and urged the player to remain composed despite provocation.

Al Jazeera also noted broader context around Vinicius, who has faced discriminatory abuse from opponents and crowds in past matches. The story recalled criticism Mourinho received last season, when he was Benfica manager, for defending a player sanctioned by UEFA over discriminatory conduct in a match against Real Madrid. The latest remarks renew attention on player protection, crowd abuse and how clubs and officials respond to repeated targeting on the field.