Mourinho starts off in red hot form

Double sessions, almost no days off. The morning after the World Cup final, at 9:00 in Valdebebas, there was no respite. Now comes the first pre-season friendly, kicking off at 17:30 local time (11:30am ET). In Madrid, the final throes of a heat wave are only just beginning to ease today, although a fourth spell of extreme heat is expected to arrive next Tuesday. Even so, conditions will remain stifling, with temperatures forecast to reach 33°C at kick-off and unlikely to drop below 30°C. This is how Mourinho’s Real Madrid begins its campaign.

An unusual friendly awaits. The match will be played at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium and will be partially open to the media. In previous years, this fixture was held on Field 1 in Valdebebas behind closed doors, with neither journalists nor supporters in attendance. That will still be the case for fans this afternoon, although the trend suggests that could change in future summers. This time, however, the media will be allowed to watch 50 minutes of the session.

The word session is deliberate. Real Madrid describes the event as a “training session” with Alcorcón rather than a friendly against them, even if, in practical terms, that is exactly what it is.

The opposition comes from Primera RFEF. Alcorcón finished 11th last season, nine points adrift of the play-off places and six clear of relegation, occupying what is often described as no man’s land. Too far from promotion to dream, comfortably clear enough to avoid looking over their shoulder. Among their squad is former Real Madrid player Esteban Aparicio.

For Real Madrid, meanwhile, the first-team numbers remain close to the bare minimum. Ten senior players are available: Lunin, Trent, Huijsen, Asencio, Carreras, Camavinga, Valverde, Güler, Mastantuono and Gonzalo. Even that comes with an asterisk. Arda Güler only returned last Monday and Valverde on Wednesday, giving them four and two days of training respectively. Neither is expected to play significant minutes. Caution and gradual progression remain the priority. The other eight, however, are expected to feature heavily.

They will form the core of the side, although the spotlight is likely to fall on Camavinga, Mastantuono and Gonzalo. All three have been linked with possible moves away during this transfer window. For them, and in truth for everyone involved, the afternoon is less about the result than about making an impression. The performance matters more than the scoreline.

The same applies to the academy graduates who will make up the rest of the squad. While the official squad list is still pending, those most involved in first-team training have been Fran González, Joan Martínez, Lamini Fati, Valde, Diego Aguado, Cestero, Cherif, Thiago, Manuel Ángel, Pol Fortuny, Palacios, Yáñez, Gabri Valero, Ciria and Jacobo Ortega.

Beyond the individual names, today will offer the first real glimpse of Mourinho’s Real Madrid 2.0. Will the 4-2-3-1 remain in place? Will the intensity already seen in training carry over into matches? Everything points to yes. Those inside Valdebebas describe Mourinho’s voice as a constant presence during sessions. He never lets standards drop, tolerates no lapses in concentration and demands maximum intensity at all times. That is why this afternoon’s friendly is expected to feel like much more than a pre-season exercise. This is serious business. Even if it begins in 33°C heat.

Match details

Real Madrid: Lunin; Trent, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga; Mastantuono, Güler, Palacios; Gonzalo.

Alcorcón: Bañuz; Pol Domingo, Lancho, Mayorga, Miguel Cuesta; Manzanara, Palmer, Pablo Rivera; Aparicio, Davo; Ouhdadi.

Referee: To be confirmed.

Kick-off: 17:30 local time (11:30am ET)

Venue: Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. The match will be played behind closed doors.

Pre-season is still awaiting its final chapter. Talks continue in Chamartín over a potential friendly against Schalke 04, which would be played at the Veltins-Arena as part of the stadium’s 25th anniversary celebrations. The anniversary itself falls on 13 August, although the match is currently being targeted for Sunday, 16 August. Most importantly, however, it has not yet been confirmed.

Before then, Real Madrid are scheduled to play five matches. The first comes this afternoon against Alcorcón, followed by Leganés on 28 July. Fiorentina await on 1 August in Klagenfurt, Austria, before Ferencváros in Budapest on 8 August. The fifth fixture is against Deportivo on 12 August in the LXXXI Teresa Herrera Trophy.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.