Real Madrid beat CD Leganés 4-1 in a closed-doors pre-season friendly on Tuesday, extending their unbeaten start to preparations for the 2026-27 season under returning head coach Jose Mourinho.
The match, played at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex, was the club’s second pre-season outing of the summer and Mourinho’s second in charge since he returned to the club for a second spell as manager.
Federico Valverde and Gonzalo Garcia put Real Madrid 2-0 ahead before Leganés pulled a goal back through Naim Garcia. Franco Mastantuono restored the two-goal cushion in the second half, and a late own goal from Ruben Pulido completed the scoring.
Mourinho fielded a mixed lineup of first-team regulars and academy players, continuing to assess his options ahead of the new campaign. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dean Huijsen, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Guler all featured, alongside Raul Asencio and youth product Ciria in defense and attack.
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior were once again absent from the squad. Both players remain on extended leave following their involvement with their national teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and have yet to rejoin Mourinho’s pre-season camp.
Real Madrid are also without several other first-team players. Eder Militao and Rodrygo are sidelined, while Thiago Pitarch is expected to be out until September with a knee injury. Thibaut Courtois picked up a thigh problem while on international duty with Belgium at the World Cup and may miss the bulk of the pre-season schedule as a result.
The result continues a difficult transition for a club that finished the 2025-26 season without a trophy, a outcome that led to Mourinho’s return. The Portuguese coach previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, a period that included a La Liga title in the 2011-12 season.
Leganés, newly relegated and now working under head coach Ruben Albes following his June appointment, used the friendly to integrate several new arrivals into their squad, including Zico Buurmeester and Yassine Kechta. Naim Garcia’s goal briefly brought the Segunda Division side back into the contest before Real Madrid pulled away in the second half.
Attendance at the friendly was restricted to media and club staff. New signing Denzel Dumfries, who has yet to feature for Real Madrid, was reported among those watching from the sidelines.
Real Madrid are expected to continue their pre-season schedule with further friendlies in the coming weeks as Mourinho works to settle his squad, including several summer signings who have not yet reported for duty, before the start of the La Liga campaign.
