Real Madrid began the preparations period for the (2026-2027) season by playing their first friendly match under the leadership of their new coach Jose Mourinho, which came against Alcorcon at the "Alfredo Di Stefano" stadium empty of spectators.
Under a temperature that reached 33 Celsius, Real Madrid achieved a clean victory. The score indicated a goalless draw when the first-team players left the pitch in the 70th minute, after which the win was achieved thanks to eleven players from the club's academy "La Fabrica", and thanks to a goal scored by the young player Yanez from a penalty kick.
Mourinho did not present major surprises in his starting lineup; as he had ten first-team players, and fielded nine of them. The only absentee was Fede Valverde who followed the match from the stands for having only two training sessions since joining on Wednesday, and alongside him were Eder Militao and Rodrygo to support the team.
On the contrary, Arda Guler started the match despite joining training only on Monday; where he led the midfield alongside Lunin in goal (and the captain's armband), and in front of him Alexander-Arnold, Asensio, Huijsen, and Carreras in defense, Cestero in the pivot, Camavinga and Guler in midfield, Mastantuono as right winger, Gonzalo in attack, and the big bet Gabri Valero as left winger.
Mourinho did not appear on the pitch except 10 minutes before kickoff to calmly watch the end of the warm-up, where he sufficed with touching the grass and the ball, then returned to his place.
The camera lenses focused on the Portuguese more than the match itself, to monitor his reactions and emotions in his first appearance at "Valdebebas" after an absence of 13 years, wearing the pink training kit and his gray hair graying with the passage of years. The Portuguese appeared calm and very self-controlled, as he only left the bench once during the first 20 minutes to give some instructions in a low voice, before returning to his seat.
On the field, Real Madrid started the match with a strong start; after only 51 seconds, Mastantuono obtained a penalty kick after penetrating from the right wing. Guler rushed to take the ball and shot it, overriding his teammate Gonzalo's desire, but he failed to convert it into a goal after the goalkeeper successfully saved it, marking the first minute and a half of Mourinho's second tenure.
The pace of the match gradually decreased; the next 15 minutes did not witness dangerous chances. Mastantuono stood out as the best performing player, alongside Cestero's personality and Gonzalo's desire to prove himself, so the first half conversations ended without goals and without reaching full conviction, amid a tactical approach based on organization and high pressing.
With the start of the media blackout after the 20th minute, the press was evacuated from the stadium and the live broadcast via the club's official channel was cut. However, Guler was seen trying to compensate for the missed penalty by presenting a distinctive dynamic performance in playmaking and executing set pieces, while Mastantuono continued to lead the team's dangerous attacks.
With the 70th minute arriving and the score indicating a goalless draw, Mourinho made a complete change by withdrawing all first-team players and fielding academy players. The decisive moment came via a second penalty kick executed successfully by Yanez into the net, amid objections from Alcorcon's technical staff to the referee's decision, so the match ended with Real Madrid winning by a clean goal.