JamzNG Latest News, Gist, Entertainment in Nigeria
Real Madrid kicked off life under manager José Mourinho with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Spanish third-division side AD Alcorcón in their opening pre-season training match on Friday at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.
The match, played behind closed doors at Valdebebas, marked Mourinho’s first outing since returning to the Santiago Bernabéu and served primarily as a fitness exercise ahead of the 2026/27 season. Despite the low-key nature of the match, Real Madrid showed glimpses of promise as they secured a winning start to their pre-season preparations. Project reports
The match featured a mix of senior first-team players and promising youth talent, with Mourinho using unlimited substitutions to assess his team’s fitness and readiness following the summer break.
Yáñez scores the decisive goal
The only goal of the match came in the second half, when youngster Dani Yáñez calmly converted a penalty to give Real Madrid the victory.
Early in the match, Turkish midfielder Arda Güler had the opportunity to give Los Blancos the lead from the penalty spot, but was unable to beat the Alcorcón goalkeeper after seeing his shot saved.
Yáñez, however, made no mistake when another penalty was awarded later in the match, ensuring Mourinho’s side opened pre-season with a victory.
Although the scoreline was narrow, the result was enough to give Real Madrid a positive start as the players continue to improve their fitness ahead of the new season.
Mastantuono attracts attention
One of the biggest positives for Real Madrid was the performance of teenage sensation Franco Mastantuono.
The highly rated youngster impressed with his ball security, attacking movement and creativity throughout the match, earning praise after winning the first penalty for his team.
With several senior stars still unavailable following international commitments, Mastantuono made full use of the opportunity to stake his claim for greater first-team involvement during pre-season.
His performance was among the standout moments of the evening and gave Mourinho another encouraging option as he begins to shape his squad for the new season.
Camavinga is the piece of the midfield
French midfielder Eduardo Camavinga also put in a confident performance in midfield.
Operating in a deeper role, Camavinga dictated the pace of play with his composure in ball possession and ability to launch attacks from the center of the park.
His performances suggest he could play a significant role under Mourinho this season, especially as the Portuguese tactician looks to rebuild the team’s midfield structure.
New signing Trent Alexander-Arnold also featured but endured a mixed game, showing glimpses of his attacking qualities as he struggled at times with misplaced passes and heavy touches as he adapted to his new surroundings.
Focus on fitness
Real Madrid made it clear before the match that the exercise was primarily designed to improve fitness rather than focus on the result.
Only a limited number of first-team starters were available, with several players still on holiday or recovering from competing in the FIFA World Cup.
The meeting also allowed Mourinho to evaluate some Castilla players, many of whom were called up to compensate for the absence of the senior internationals.
The Portuguese coach has reportedly introduced challenging double training sessions as he looks to impose his authority on the squad from the opening week of pre-season.
More tests ahead
Real Madrid’s preparations will continue with further friendlies against Leganés, Fiorentina, Ferencváros and Deportivo La Coruña before the start of the 2026/27 La Liga season.
While Friday’s match was mainly about regaining game clarity, Mourinho will be encouraged by the discipline shown by his players and the encouraging performances of several youngsters.
As more first-team stars return to training in the coming weeks, Real Madrid will look to build on their winning start and develop the tactical identity that Mourinho hopes will lead the club back to great success during his second spell in charge.
