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Mourinho's Real Madrid starts the pre-season with a test against

Real Madrid's first test under José Mourinho's command, against Alcorcón, marked the beginning of the Whites' preparation.

25 July 2026PortugalEspanha
Mourinho's Real Madrid starts the pre-season with a test against

Mourinho's Real Madrid begins pre-season with test against

According to Mundodeportivo.

Why this matters

The start of Real Madrid's pre-season under the guidance of José Mourinho is crucial to the team's preparation for the upcoming La Liga season. This first test against Alcorcón allows the coach to assess the players' physical state and implement his tactical ideas. The way the team adapts to these new guidelines could be decisive for success in the Spanish league.

Main conclusions

  • Mourinho's Real Madrid begins pre-season with a test against.
  • Real Madrid's first test under José Mourinho's command, against Alcorcón, marked the beginning of the Whites' preparation.
  • First images of Mourinho's Real Madrid game.
Image

José Mourinho's Real Madrid kicked off the new season with a first pre-season test against Alcorcón, held at the club's Ciudad Desportiva in Madrid. The meeting, designed as a work and observation exercise, served the Portuguese coach to put the team on the pitch, test ideas and gather the first conclusions of the preparation. Without the pressure of the result, the priority was on rhythm, physical loads and fine-tuning principles. Mourinho thus began, in a practical way, the construction of the competitive plan for 2026/27. Known for his demands and detail, the coach took advantage of the game to evaluate collective behavior in different phases of the game: defensive organization, post-loss pressure, exits from behind and dynamics in transitions. There was also room for tactical experiments, something typical at this stage of the season, with the aim of understanding solutions and profiles that best fit the model you want to implement. For many players, especially those returning from loans or coming through the ranks, these minutes in game context are vital. The pre-season is usually the stage for gaining space in the squad, and this first sample allowed Mourinho to begin an informed screening of who is furthest along in assimilating ideas. The chosen opponent, Alcorcón, is a Madrid team accustomed to the competitive rigor of Spanish professional divisions and a recurring partner in trials of this nature: competitive enough to test processes, but framed by the need to manage efforts at this time of year. The context of the match, less about spectacle and more about preparation, fits into the Portuguese's specifications: consolidating a solid physical base, reducing unforced errors and accelerating automatisms with the ball. The choice of the Sports City guaranteed a controlled environment to measure the group's responses, alternating teams and roles according to the incidences of the game and the objectives of each work block. For Mourinho, who knows the club well and has titles won at the club on his CV, returning to lead Real Madrid in the competition — albeit in a trial format — represents the practical beginning of a new cycle. The focus, at this stage, is to create a stable, intense and effective team, capable of meeting the demands of La Liga and the upcoming European competitions. More training sessions and new preparation friendlies follow, natural steps in a calendar designed to reach the official start with the machine in tune. The first game fulfilled its mission: making the team play, collecting data and feeding the work plan with the clarity of the first conclusions.

What happens next

After this first test, Real Madrid will continue its preparation with more pre-season games, where Mourinho must adjust his strategy and evaluate the players' performance. The expectation is that the coach will use these meetings to define the squad and tactics he intends to implement in the new La Liga season. The team's evolution will be closely watched by fans and the press.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in Real Madrid's pre-season test?

Real Madrid, under the command of José Mourinho, held a pre-season test against Alcorcón at the club's Sports City, focusing on team preparation and observation.

Who confirmed the start of Real Madrid's pre-season?

José Mourinho confirmed the start of Real Madrid's pre-season by leading the first test against Alcorcón.

Why is this pre-season test important now?

This test is important so that Mourinho can evaluate the team's performance, test tactical ideas and observe players looking for space in the squad.

What changes were seen during the game?

During the game, Mourinho tested collective behaviors, defensive organization, post-loss pressure and transition dynamics, in addition to carrying out tactical experiments.

What is the goal of preseason for players?

The aim of pre-season is to allow players, especially those returning from loans or moving up from the squad, to gain minutes on the pitch and adapt to the coach's ideas.

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