Real Madrid’s preseason continues today: Time and venue for the behind-closed-doors friendly game
Against Leganés today, Real Madrid play their second friendly of the preseason period, in another game that will witness a media blackout.
Fede Valverde watched from the stands against Alcorcón last week, but today he’s back on the field. Real Madrid’s new club captain is the headline addition for Los Blancos’ second preseason test, against Leganés at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano (12:00 noon ET/9:00 a.m. PT). The match will follow the same unconventional approach as last Friday: only the opening 20 minutes will be broadcast before the feed goes dark. That’s also how long the media will be allowed to remain in the stands. Just another Madrid preseason quirk. In their first game of the new José Mourinho era, Madrid won, but hardly impressed. A penalty from Daniel Yáñez in the 81st minute secured a 1-0 victory. Today offers a second chance. Another opportunity to make a stronger statement.
Who’ll be in Real Madrid’s lineup today?
There are expected to be 10 first-team players in the starting XI. Andriy Lunin should start in goal behind a back four of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raúl Asencio, Dean Huijsen and Álvaro Carreras. In midfield, Jorge Cestero is expected to drop out, making way for a partnership featuring Eduardo Camavinga and Valverde. Franco Mastantuono is set to start on the right, with Arda Güler operating as the playmaker behind striker Gonzalo García. The only real question mark is on the left wing. Gabri Valero got the nod in the first preseason outing and could retain his place, although César Palacios is also strongly in contention. Alexis Ciria remains another possibility. Either way, the spot is expected to go to an academy player.
Beyond those names, there is little additional depth available right now. Against Alcorcón, most of the first-team players logged around 70 minutes before La Fábrica began to take center stage. In fact, the score was still 0-0 when the academy players entered the game. It is no exaggeration to say the youth ranks won that friendly for Madrid. Güler missed a penalty in the second minute, and it was Yáñez, deep into the closing stages, who delivered the winning goal.
There were also some tactical clues. At times, the shape looked more like a 4-3-3 than a 4-2-3-1. Just as evident, however, was the inevitable lack of match sharpness.
That is where leadership becomes invaluable. Valverde will make his maiden appearance as Real Madrid’s first-choice skipper this afternoon, inheriting the role following Dani Carvajal’s departure. Vinícius Júnior moves up to second captain, Thibaut Courtois to third, and Rodrygo Goes to fourth. Valverde returned to training on July 22, and today he is expected to start. The big question is how Mourinho intends to use him. Will he operate in a more positional double pivot, or will he continue in the box-to-box role where he has consistently shown world-class, Galáctico-level qualities? This is his moment. His afternoon.
Will Dumfries play today?
Denzel Dumfries is also expected to be part of the day’s story, although there is an important caveat. The message coming out of Valdebebas is that he will train today after beginning work with the squad yesterday, but he is not yet ready to play. Slowly but surely. For context, Valverde watched the Alcorcón friendly from the stands because the coaching staff felt two training sessions were not enough preparation. Dumfries is targeting his first run-out on Saturday against Fiorentina in Austria, likely for only a handful of minutes. There is no rush. But the Dutchman may well make an appearance in the directors’ box today.
Madrid’s other World Cup participants will gradually return over the coming weeks. Antonio Rüdiger and Endrick are both expected back before the end of this week. The following week, barring any players choosing to return early on their own, Courtois, Bernardo Silva, Brahim Díaz and Vinícius are scheduled to rejoin the squad. The five players who reached the World Cup semifinals will not report until the second week of August: Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé.
For now, however, the group remains relatively thin. The squad available today will largely mirror the one used in the Alcorcón friendly, with Valverde added to the mix. Ten first-team players and roughly a dozen youth prospects are expected to be involved, although only one academy player is projected to start.
It will be Mourinho’s second preseason test. The setting is the Di Stéfano, where temperatures are expected to reach nearly 100°F, even hotter than they were against Alcorcón. That has been the story of Madrid’s preseason so far: demanding, grueling, and running at full intensity.
At a glance - Real Madrid’s preseason schedule as it stands:
- July 24: Real Madrid 1-0 Alcorcón (Estadio Di Stéfano, Madrid)
- July 28: Real Madrid vs Leganés (Estadio Di Stéfano, Madrid)
- August 1: Fiorentina vs Real Madrid (Klagenfurt, Austria)
- August 8: Ferencváros vs Real Madrid (Budapest, Hungary)
- August 12: Deportivo La Coruña vs Real Madrid (A Coruña, Spain)
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