Real Madrid win big, Mourinho's perfect return

Real Madrid recorded their first big win since Mourinho's comeback at the Bernabeu, defeating Leganés 4-1 in a friendly match ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The Spanish royal club continued their perfect record under Mourinho with an energetic performance at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. Four days earlier, Real had opened their preseason with a 1-0 win over Alcorcón thanks to a penalty from young talent Dani Yanez.

Against Leganés, Mourinho deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation with Andriy Lunin in goal. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, and Alvaro Carreras formed the backline, while Federico Valverde wore the captain's armband and partnered Eduardo Camavinga in midfield. Franco Mastantuono, Arda Güler, and Cesar Ciria supported striker Gonzalo Garcia.

Mourinho's tactical imprint was soon evident in Real Madrid's intense pressing and vertical ball progression. Güler frequently dropped deep to connect play whenever Valverde pushed forward to attack space. This interchange helped the hosts open the scoring in the 20th minute. The Turkish midfielder played a through ball for Valverde to run onto, before the Real captain slotted a low shot past Raúl Fernández.

Five minutes later, Alexander-Arnold played a ball behind the Leganés defense. Gonzalo Garcia timed his run perfectly and chipped the ball delicately over the goalkeeper, making it 2-0. The striker, who came through the La Fábrica academy, also impressed with his fighting ability and leadership in the pressing system.

Leganés pulled one back in the 36th minute. Naim García beat Alexander-Arnold on the left flank and unleashed a splendid angled shot that Lunin couldn't save. The goal also highlighted an issue Real need to improve when pushing high: the space behind the defense whenever they lost possession.

In the second half, Mourinho's team quickly re-established their dominance. In the 58th minute, Alexander-Arnold's shot was saved by goalkeeper Juan Soriano, allowing Mastantuono to tap in the rebound to make it 3-1. Just two minutes later, the English defender's cross caused Rubén Pulido to awkwardly head into his own net, sealing a 4-1 victory. The match events and goal scorers were confirmed by both Real Madrid and Leganés.

Mourinho gave nearly the last 30 minutes to the young players, continuing to assess squad depth before the official season begins. Two consecutive wins, especially the fast-paced display against Leganés, show the first outlines of the new version of Real Madrid gradually taking shape.