Real Madrid News
Real Madrid would be 10 points behind Barcelona without their unsung hero
Real Madrid have had a mixed start to the 2026-27 season, winning most of their games but also losing a couple and finding themselves six points behind Barcelona in September.
Some performances from Jose Mourinho’s team were convincing, while some required late rescue acts to help secure victory.
Carlos Espi has barely featured for Los Blancos this season. Somehow, the 20-year-old has still managed to have a major influence on their La Liga campaign.
According to Diario AS, Espi has played only 26 of Madrid’s 720 available minutes this season, just 3.6 percent. Yet he has scored twice, directly earning four league points.
He was only centimetres away from adding another goal against Real Betis, a game in which Madrid dropped points.
26 minutes, two goals, four points
Mourinho has never given Espi more than 10 minutes in a match.
He played 10 against Espanyol, four against Real Sociedad, eight against Betis, one against Inter and three against Elche. Against Malaga, Rayo Vallecano and Atletico Madrid, he did not feature at all.
Despite this, Espi has somehow become Madrid’s emergency specialist. His 90th-minute goal against Espanyol turned a draw into a 2-1 victory. Against Elche, he struck in the 91st minute to secure another dramatic win.
His impact could have been even greater. Espi also found the net against Betis, only for the goal to be ruled out for an extremely tight offside.
This is what makes it extremely surprising that Mourinho did not bring him on against Atletico Madrid despite having an unused substitute window.
Having halved the deficit late in the game through an Antonio Rudiger header, logic suggested that it was Espi’s perfect entry point.
Instead, Mourinho chose to leave the Spaniard on the bench despite what he has done so far this campaign, seeing his team drop points at the Metropolitano.
Without Espi, Madrid would be 10 points behind
Espi’s impact is explained best when those decisive goals are removed.
Without Espi’s contributions against Espanyol and Elche, Madrid would have 11 league points rather than 15.
Instead of sitting six points behind Barcelona, Mourinho’s team would be sixth and 10 points away from the leaders.
That is an extraordinary return from someone who has played just 3.6 per cent of Madrid’s season. Espi has rarely even been used as a direct replacement for Kylian Mbappe.
Mourinho usually introduces him for a midfielder when Madrid desperately need a goal, adding another physical presence inside the penalty area.
So far, Espi has delivered. However, his road to becoming a starter looks almost non-existent. Mbappe remains the centrepiece of Madrid’s attack.
However, 26 minutes for producing four points should earn something. At the very least, it should earn Carlos Espi more than 26 minutes.
Real Madrid News
Mourinho considering starting 23-year-old Real Madrid ace against Villarreal – report
After impressing during the international break, Eduardo Camavinga has a major opportunity to establish himself in Real Madrid’s midfield rotation.
Indeed, according to Defensa Central, Jose Mourinho is considering starting the Frenchman against Villarreal, with injuries and doubts over several players limiting his options.
Real Madrid cannot afford to drop points against Villarreal if they want to remain in the title race. However, Mourinho has issues to deal with in the squad, which could lead him to turn to Camavinga for a crucial role.
Camavinga could replace Tchouameni in midfield
The 23-year-old star could line up as the defensive midfielder in the double pivot, with Bernardo Silva or Arda Guler alongside him, and will be tasked with providing balance in midfield.
Real Madrid face Villarreal with several problems in central defence. Ibrahima Konate is expected to be a late call, leading Mourinho to consider moving Aurelien Tchouameni into defence alongside Antonio Rudiger.
Meanwhile, Federico Valverde could also struggle to be ready after the ankle injury he sustained in the derby before the international break.
The Uruguayan has continued to work individually away from the group and might return to group training tomorrow. Even then, his readiness to start remains in question.
That would leave a place open in midfield, with Camavinga in line to fill in.
Camavinga impressed during the international break
Camavinga has started only one match this season, the defeat against Real Betis.
Despite his limited opportunities, Mourinho is keen to bring the Frenchman back into the fold after he impressed for France during the international break.
Zinedine Zidane called the Real Madrid star up for his first France squad, and the midfielder performed well during the break.
That has given Mourinho and Real Madrid reason to be optimistic about using him against Villarreal, with the hope that he can move closer to the level he showed after first arriving at the club.
Therefore, the Villarreal match could represent an important test for Camavinga and a chance for the Frenchman to show that he can provide the balance Real Madrid need in midfield.
