Real Madrid's 2026 Preseason Under Jose Mourinho: Results, Fixtures and What We've Learned
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Mourinho himself had dismissed the idea only months earlier, telling reporters while managing Benfica that he didn't do "soap operas." He ended up taking the job anyway, and preseason has given the first real look at how his second spell in Madrid might unfold: four wins, one draw, no losses, and a squad reshaped by six summer signings built almost entirely around defensive solidity.
How Preseason Went
Madrid eased into things with two behind-closed-doors wins at their Valdebebas training base, 1-0 over Alcorcon and 4-1 over Leganes, before four away fixtures against increasingly serious opposition. A 2-2 draw with Fiorentina in Klagenfurt, Austria, was the first public run-out of the summer, with Endrick and youngster Alexis Ciria on the scoresheet. It also confirmed the exit of Franco Mastantuono, left out of the squad entirely as his loan move to the Italian club was finalised within hours of kick-off.
Madrid then beat Ferencvaros 2-1 in Budapest, a game Mourinho described afterward as showing "very good control," before travelling to Riazor to lift the Teresa Herrera Trophy for the tenth time in the club's history, a 1-0 win over newly promoted Deportivo La Coruna settled by Brahim Diaz, who controlled a long throw from goalkeeper Andriy Lunin on his chest before finishing low. Vinicius Junior captained the side that night, his first match since signing a new long-term contract that finally ended months of uncertainty over his future.
Preseason wrapped up in style in Gelsenkirchen, where Kylian Mbappe needed just six minutes to open the scoring against Schalke, pouncing on a poor Ron Schallenberg backpass in his first appearance of preseason. Dean Huijsen headed in a second from an Arda Guler corner, and substitute Carlos Espi added a third, sealing a 3-0 win and an unbeaten preseason.
| Opponent (Result) | Date | Location | Kick-off (ET) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcorcon (W 1-0) | Fri, Jul 24 | Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid | 8:00 a.m. |
| Leganes (W 4-1) | Tue, Jul 28 | Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid | 12:00 p.m. |
| Fiorentina (D 2-2) | Sat, Aug 1 | Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt | 12:00 p.m. |
| Ferencvaros (W 2-1) | Sat, Aug 8 | Groupama Arena, Budapest | 1:00 p.m. |
| Deportivo (W 1-0) | Wed, Aug 12 | Riazor, A Coruna | 3:00 p.m. |
| Schalke (W 3-0) | Sun, Aug 16 | Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen | 12:00 p.m. |
Where Real Madrid Played
After two closed-doors games at their own Valdebebas complex, Madrid's tour took them across three countries. The Fiorentina match was played at Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria, a ground Madrid last visited for a friendly against AC Milan in 2021. From there it was on to Budapest to face Ferencvaros on home turf, before Deportivo and Schalke, both newly promoted to their respective top flights last season, hosted Madrid at their own grounds in Spain and Germany.
Working World Cup Players Back Into the Squad
Antonio Rudiger and Endrick rejoined the squad after the Leganes game, while Vinicius Junior returned on July 31, just before putting pen to paper on his new contract. Mbappe was the last of the major returnees, not featuring at all until the final friendly against Schalke, where he arrived fresh off finishing as the World Cup's top scorer.
Two summer signings, Ibrahima Konate and Bernardo Silva, both started the Schalke match, while four more, Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Espi and Yan Diomande, came off the bench. Cucurella's preseason debut came fresh off winning the World Cup with Spain, while Diomande, a former RB Leipzig winger, made his first Madrid appearance in the same match.
Mourinho's Rebuild So Far
Defence has been the clear priority of Madrid's summer business. Alongside Konate and Bernardo Silva, both free transfers, Madrid have paid for full-back pair Marc Cucurella and Denzel Dumfries, giving Mourinho fresh options on both sides of defence after a season in which Madrid's back line was repeatedly picked apart. Centre-back Dean Huijsen, already at the club before Mourinho's arrival, has scored in back-to-back preseason matches and looks set for a regular starting role.
Jude Bellingham has called working under the new manager a "dream," while also admitting preseason has been tougher physically than under previous regimes, with more running and greater intensity in training. Mourinho, for his part, has struck a cautious tone throughout, saying after the Deportivo win that his side is "progressing in all aspects" while stressing that the difficulty of matches will keep increasing as the season approaches.
Real Madrid's First La Liga Fixtures of 2026/27
Madrid kick off their title bid away at Espanyol, a side they beat twice last season, before back-to-back home matches at the Bernabeu against Real Sociedad and newly promoted Malaga.
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, August 22 | Espanyol | Away |
| Wed, August 26 | Real Sociedad | Home |
| Sun, August 30 | Malaga | Home |
| Sun, September 6 | Real Betis | Away |
| Sun, September 13 | Rayo Vallecano | Home |
Mourinho's competitive return to Madrid could hardly have a bigger stage than his first game back at the Bernabeu, but it's the trip to Espanyol on August 22 that will actually mark his first match in charge, a full thirteen years on from his last spell in the dugout there.