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Real Madrid 2026 Preseason: Schedule, Results, and Mourinho’s Return

Real Madrid is heading into the 2026/27 season with Jose Mourinho back at the helm. After a turbulent 2025/26 campaign that saw a midseason coaching change from Xabi Alonso to Alvaro Arbeloa and ended without trophies, club president Florentino Perez decided to bring Mourinho back.

The team has been active in the transfer market, and their preseason games have given some clues about how the squad might shape up under Mourinho’s guidance.

Preseason Matches and Results

Real Madrid started their preseason with two closed-door matches at their Valdebebas training center, facing Alcorcon and Leganes. Following those, they played four away games against teams from various leagues: Serie A’s Fiorentina, Hungary’s Ferencvaros, Deportivo La Coruna, and Schalke.

Both Deportivo and Schalke had recently earned promotion to La Liga and Bundesliga respectively.

  • Opponent: Alcorcon (Win 1-0)
  • Date: Friday, July 24
  • Location: Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid
  • Kickoff Time (ET): 8 a.m.
  • Opponent: Leganes (Win 4-1)
  • Date: Tuesday, July 28
  • Location: Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano, Madrid
  • Kickoff Time (ET): 12 p.m.
  • Opponent: Fiorentina (Draw 2-2)
  • Date: Saturday, August 1
  • Location: Worthersee Stadion, Klagenfurt
  • Kickoff Time (ET): 12 p.m.
  • Opponent: Ferencvaros (Win 2-1)
  • Date: Saturday, August 8
  • Location: Groupama Arena, Budapest
  • Kickoff Time (ET): 1 p.m.
  • Opponent: Deportivo (Win 1-0)
  • Date: Wednesday, August 12
  • Location: Riazor, A Coruna
  • Kickoff Time (ET): 3 p.m.
  • Opponent: Schalke (Win 3-0)
  • Date: Sunday, August 16
  • Location: Veltins-Arena, Gelsenkirchen
  • Kickoff Time (ET): 12 p.m.

Venues for Preseason Games

The 2-2 draw against Fiorentina took place at Worthersee Stadion in Klagenfurt, Austria, a venue with a 30,000 capacity where AC Milan played back in 2021. The match against Ferencvaros was held in Budapest at Groupama Arena. Deportivo and Schalke hosted Madrid on their home grounds as well.

Return of Key Players

Players like Antonio Rudiger and Endrick rejoined the squad after the Leganes match. Vinicius Junior returned on July 31 and shortly after signed a significant contract extension with Real Madrid. Kylian Mbappe made an impact immediately, scoring within six minutes of his return in the preseason finale against Schalke.

First La Liga Fixtures of 2026/27

Real Madrid will begin their La Liga campaign on August 22 with an away match against Espanyol. Last season, Madrid won both league games against Espanyol by 2-0 scores.

Mourinho’s first competitive matches back at Santiago Bernabeu will be home games against Real Sociedad on August 26 and Malaga on August 30, who secured promotion through the playoffs last season.

  • Date: Saturday, August 22 - Opponent: Espanyol (Away)
  • Date: Wednesday, August 26 - Opponent: Real Sociedad (Home)
  • Date: Sunday, August 30 - Opponent: Malaga (Home)
  • Date: Sunday, September 6 - Opponent: Real Betis (Away)
  • Date: Sunday, September 13 - Opponent: Rayo Vallecano (Home)

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