José Mourinho don begin im second spell as Real Madrid boss, and di first match na behind-closed-doors friendly against Leganés on Tuesday. Dis one na training-ground game for Valdebebas, and e go show how di Portuguese manager don plan to reshape di team after a season wey no get trophy.
Real Madrid bin struggle last season. Dem finish second for La Liga behind Barcelona, and dem no fit pass Champions League quarterfinal. Di board try new direction but e no work, so Florentino Pérez don call back Mourinho. Even though Mourinho no be di same coach wey win everything before, Pérez trust am to fix di matter.
Di squad wey Mourinho go work with don change well well. Some players dey still for World Cup duty, and di new signings no even report yet. But some pikin like Arda Güler don come back from Turkey elimination and go play part. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Eduardo Camavinga, and Dean Huijsen suppose also feature for di friendly.
Leganés na di opponent, and dem be former club of Yan Diomande wey Real Madrid dey expect to sign. Leganés bin drop to second division two seasons ago, and dem finish 16th last term. Dem get new manager Rubén Albés for di 2026-27 season. Di history between di two sides favour Real Madrid big time — dem win 11 of di last 15 meetings, and di only Leganés win for over ten years na for Copa del Rey.
For dis friendly, Real Madrid go use fringe players and youth because of di absentees. Leganés don already play three preseason games, so dem dey more ready. But still, di quality gap big, and di players wey want impress Mourinho get chance to show something small.
Prediction wey dey go round na Real Madrid 3-1 Leganés. Some players like Thibaut Courtois get thigh injury from Belgium World Cup quarterfinal against Spain, so e go miss most of preseason. Militão and Rodrygo also dey out. Midfielder Thiago Pitarch no go play until September with knee problem. For Leganés, Marcos Leiva get knee injury wey go sideline am for long time. New signings like Zico Buurmeester from AZ Alkmaar and Yassine Kechta from Le Havre fit start. Amadou Diawara wey play for Napoli and Roma before also dey.
Di predicted lineup for Real Madrid na 4-2-3-1: Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Martínez, Huijsen, Carreras; Cestero, Camavinga; Mastantuono, Güler, Palacios; García. For Leganés, also 4-2-3-1: Soriano; Peña, Aguilar, Miquel, Marvel; Diawara, Kechta; García, Rodríguez, López; Millán.
No broadcast dey for dis match because e be behind-closed-doors. James Cormack, di writer wey follow di matter, don yarn say e focus on match previews and predicted lineups, and e get passion for soccer history.
