Mourinho’s First Sketch of the New Madrid

José Mourinho’s Real Madrid opened their preseason with a low-key but revealing workout against Alcorcón, a first friendly that looked less like a spectacle and more like a laboratory.

Mourinho’s First Sketch of the New Madrid

From the start, Mourinho nailed his colours to a familiar mast: 4-2-3-1. No disguises, no experiments with back threes. Just a clear structure and a chance to see who can live inside it.

Eduardo Camavinga and Cestero sat as the double pivot, the engine room tasked with knitting Madrid’s play together. Ahead of them, Arda Güler took the keys as the No. 10, operating behind Gonzalo and Valero, with Mastantuono stretching the game from the wings.

At the back, there was another notable marker. Trent Alexander-Arnold lined up at right-back, given the full length of the flank to interpret as he pleased. Huijsen and Asencio formed the central pairing, Carreras started on the left, and Lunin took his place in goal.

It was a side that mixed status with opportunity, structure with curiosity.

A Missed Chance to Set the Tone

The first 25 minutes were open to the press, and Madrid nearly had the perfect early storyline. Mastantuono forced the key moment, winning a penalty and injecting some edge into what had been a controlled, almost training-ground rhythm.

Güler stepped up. This was his moment to stamp the afternoon with a touch of class.

Alcorcón’s goalkeeper read it, saved it, and the chance slipped away.

The miss didn’t break Madrid’s shape, but it did set the tone: this was a team still shaking off rust, still searching for sharpness in the final third. The patterns were there, the dominance in territory and possession evident, yet the finish was missing.

Goalless, but Not Pointless

The first half closed at 0-0. No goals, no headline moment, but plenty for Mourinho to sift through.

Camavinga’s role at the base, Güler’s positioning between the lines, Alexander-Arnold’s starting point on the right, the early chemistry between the centre-backs — all logged, all noted.

Now comes the second act. Mourinho is expected to rotate heavily, opening the door for Castilla players to step into the spotlight and chase serious minutes. For the established names, this is about rhythm and conditioning. For the youngsters, it’s a rare audition in a Real Madrid shirt under one of the game’s most demanding coaches.

The scoreline may say little. The selections, the tweaks, and the minutes handed out will say far more about where this Madrid is heading.