Mourinho's Experimental XI in Real Madrid's Preseason Opener

Real Madrid eased back into action with a low-key but revealing first preseason friendly against Alcorcón, and José Mourinho wasted no time showing his hand. This was no gentle jog-through. It was a tactical sketch of what his Madrid might look like in the months ahead.

He lined his side up in a 4-2-3-1, with Eduardo Camavinga and Cestero anchoring the midfield. Ahead of them, Arda Güler operated in the central pocket as a classic No. 10, flanked by Mastantuono and Valero, with Gonzalo leading the line. It was a shape with clear intent: control at the base, creativity between the lines, and young legs on the wings to stretch the pitch.

At the back, Mourinho made another statement. Trent Alexander-Arnold started at right-back, with Huijsen and Asencio paired in central defence and Carreras on the left. Lunin took his place in goal, tasked with marshalling a back four still learning each other’s movements.

The match, open to the press for the first 25 minutes, quickly offered a snapshot of Madrid’s attacking blueprint. Mastantuono, lively and direct on the flank, forced the key moment of the half when he won a penalty, cutting through Alcorcón’s defence and drawing a foul in the box. It was exactly the kind of incisive play Mourinho will want to bottle for the season.

But the chance went begging. Güler stepped up from the spot, only to see his effort saved by the Alcorcón goalkeeper. A big moment for the young playmaker, and a reminder that preseason rust is not just physical.

From there, Madrid probed but never fully broke Alcorcón’s resistance. The structure was clear, the ideas visible, but the final pass and sharpness in front of goal were missing. The first half closed at 0-0, a scoreline that underlined both Madrid’s control and their lack of cutting edge.

Second Half

Now comes the real preseason work. Mourinho is expected to rotate heavily after the break, handing significant minutes to Castilla players while managing the workload of his senior names. The result on the day will matter far less than what he learns from these experiments.

For some, this friendly is just a warm-up. For those on the fringes, it could be the opening audition for a place in Mourinho’s plans.