José Mourinho's second era in charge of Real Madrid began quietly and nervily on Friday, with the club needing a stoppage-heavy penalty to see off third-tier Alcorcón 1-0 in a preseason friendly at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, ONE reports.
It is thirteen years since the Portuguese last patrolled a Real Madrid touchline, and this reintroduction offered little of the theatre associated with his first spell. Mourinho watched from the bench with minimal instruction, cutting a low-key figure as his side toiled for long stretches against lower-division opposition.
The breakthrough almost came in the first minute. Franco Mastantuono, the Argentine winger signed from River Plate, drove down the right and won a penalty inside 51 seconds of kick-off - only for Arda Güler to see his effort saved, leaving the game goalless deep into the second half.
Real Madrid were finally rewarded for their pressure in the 81st minute, when a second penalty was awarded and dispatched by Yáñez, one of several academy players introduced as Mourinho emptied his bench.
Mastantuono was the outstanding performer on the night regardless of the missed spot-kick, according to ONE, repeatedly threatening down the flank and involved in most of the team's meaningful attacking moments both with and without the ball.
Eduardo Camavinga and academy midfielder Gonzalo Brahim also drew praise for their contributions, while Güler was credited with confident, inventive play in possession even after his penalty miss.
Around the 70-minute mark, Mourinho withdrew his entire starting line-up in one go, handing further minutes to a batch of academy prospects for the closing stages - a pattern typical of pre-season friendlies but also an early signal of how the new coach intends to use these matches to assess his squad depth.
The match itself was played under difficult conditions, with heavy smoke from wildfires affecting the Madrid region visible over the stadium; ONE reported that the club halted its broadcast and withdrew media from pitchside access after around 20 minutes.
Mourinho's return to the Santiago Bernabéu institution was confirmed by the club in June, with the 63-year-old, who won two league titles and a Copa del Rey during his first spell between 2010 and 2013, tasked with resetting a squad now built around a new generation including Mastantuono, Güler and the promoted academy contingent.
Friday's narrow win over Alcorcón was only the first of several pre-season fixtures before Real Madrid open their 2026-27 campaign, giving Mourinho a handful of further run-outs to settle on his first-choice XI.
