Pregame | Real Madrid ⚪ 🆚 Real Sociedad 🔵⚪

Everything is ready at the Santiago Bernabéu! Real Madrid and Real Sociedad are going through their final warm-up routines on the pitch ahead of their rescheduled Matchday 1 clash in LaLiga 2026-27. It will be Madrid’s first home match of the season and the highly anticipated return of José Mourinho to the Bernabéu dugout.

The atmosphere is building in Madrid. Kickoff is getting closer!

⚪ Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad 🔵⚪

Real Madrid return to the Santiago Bernabéu for their first home match of the season, and it will be a very special night: José Mourinho will once again manage an official game for Los Blancos at the Bernabéu after 13 years. Standing in their way will be Real Sociedad, who will look to spoil the Portuguese coach’s homecoming.

The match corresponds to Matchday 1 of the 2026-27 LaLiga season, which had been postponed for teams that had representatives in the semifinals of the recent World Cup. As a result, Madrid already played their Matchday 2 fixture against Espanyol.

Now it is time to play in front of their supporters.

Mourinho Returns to the Bernabéu

It will be a different kind of night for José Mourinho.

The Portuguese coach returned to the Real Madrid bench this summer and has already passed his first official test with a 2-1 victory over Espanyol in Barcelona.

It was not easy. Los Blancos had to battle until the end to secure all three points, but they managed to start the season with a victory and will now have the opportunity to do it in front of their own fans.

Mourinho himself spoke about the importance of this first home match and called for a Bernabéu that welcomes the team “with passion.” He also made it clear that, although the season has only just begun, every point will be important in the battle for LaLiga.

For the coach, it will also be his first official match in charge of Madrid at this stadium since 2013.

Real Madrid Lineup

Real Sociedad Want to Spoil the Party

Real Sociedad arrive at the Bernabéu with a very clear mission: prevent Mourinho’s return from turning into a celebration.

The Basque side will have to withstand the early pressure from a stadium that is expected to welcome Los Blancos with plenty of intensity, but they also know the match could provide opportunities if they can survive Madrid’s opening attacks and find spaces to exploit.

For Madrid, meanwhile, it will be another test during a particularly demanding start to the season.

Los Blancos will play three LaLiga matches in just eight days: first came Espanyol, now Real Sociedad, and then they will host Málaga at the Bernabéu.

Real Sociedad Lineup

The First Home Night of a New Era

The match will also give Madrid supporters their first opportunity to see Mourinho’s new project in an official game at the Bernabéu.

Following the victory in Barcelona, expectations are growing around a team that is still beginning to adapt to the Portuguese coach’s ideas.

Mourinho wants another victory.

Real Sociedad want to become the first team to take points off Madrid this season.

And the Bernabéu will once again welcome a manager who knows exactly what it means to coach from that dugout.

Everything is ready for José Mourinho’s first night back home.

Match Information

Match: Real Madrid vs. Real Sociedad
Competition: 2026-27 LaLiga
Matchday: 1 (postponed match)
Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
Time: 3:00 p.m. ET / 12:00 p.m. PT / 9:00 p.m. Spain
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu
City: Madrid, Spain

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