Real Madrid Thrash Leganés as Mourinho's Preseason Continues
Real Madrid picked up another preseason victory with a commanding 4-1 win over Leganés. José Mourinho's side delivered another encouraging performance, highlighted by Fede Valverde's return to the starting lineup and the presence of new signing Denzel Dumfries.
Real Madrid continued its preparations for the 2026-27 campaign on Tuesday with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Leganés in a preseason friendly at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. The match also marked Fede Valverde's return to the starting XI, while recently signed defender Denzel Dumfries watched from the stands after joining his new teammates in training.
The team managed by José Mourinho controlled most of the contest and once again showed promising signs during a summer in which the squad continues to welcome high-profile additions ahead of the new season.
Valverde and Gonzalo Lead Madrid's Victory
After a balanced opening period, Real Madrid began to dominate possession and found the breakthrough through an excellent combination between Arda Güler and Fede Valverde. The Uruguayan midfielder latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from the Turkish playmaker before calmly finishing across goal.
Moments later, Trent Alexander-Arnold showcased his vision with a perfectly timed pass into space for Gonzalo, who brought the ball down superbly before beating the goalkeeper to double the advantage.
Although Naim pulled one back for Leganés before halftime with a powerful strike, Real Madrid remained firmly in control throughout the match.
Mourinho Continues Shaping His Star-Studded Squad
Early in the second half, Franco Mastantuono capitalized on a rebound inside the box to score the third goal, while an own goal from Pulido just one minute later sealed an emphatic victory for the Spanish giants.
With the result all but secured, José Mourinho used the closing stages to give several academy players valuable minutes as he continues evaluating his squad ahead of the official start of the season.
Watching from the stands were Emilio Butragueño, along with Éder Militão, Rodrygo, and Denzel Dumfries, while several other stars are expected to rejoin the squad in the coming days, including Antonio Rüdiger, Endrick, Vinícius Júnior, Bernardo Silva, Brahim Díaz, and Thibaut Courtois. Ibrahima Konaté and Marc Cucurella will report later after completing their summer break.
Meanwhile, the transfer market continues to generate excitement around the club, with Yan Diomande and Rodri among the players being linked with potential moves to Real Madrid. The Spanish giants will play their next preseason match on August 1 against Fiorentina as Mourinho continues preparing his team for the challenges ahead.
