Tyrhys Dolan made an explosive start to the season in La Liga with a goal in Espanyol's 3-0 win over Levante. The English forward, 24, insists he is a different player from a year ago after his first season in Spanish football following his move from Blackburn Rovers. "I know the league now. I know myself a lot more. I know what I can do."

A key factor is his positional shift from right wing to left. Last season he operated wide on the touchline, focusing on crosses, but now he can cut inside and shoot. "For me, it is better because I can cut in and get more shots off. I can be more dangerous as a left winger," he explains. The change yielded an immediate goal against Levante.

Espanyol host Real Madrid on Saturday, the 36-time champions' first La Liga game under returning manager Jose Mourinho and featuring Kylian Mbappe. Dolan recalls his first meeting with Madrid as a "pinch-me moment" but now approaches it with "a cooler head." He welcomes the test against elite opposition like Trent Alexander-Arnold or Denzil Dumfries. "These are the games that you want to compete against the best so that you can bring your best and see where you are at."