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Real Madrid Beats Ferencváros 2-1, Shifts Preseason to Europe

8/9/2026

24 4 Full Breakdown

Summary

Real Madrid Win

Real Madrid beat Ferencváros 2–1 on 8 August 2026; Mario Rivas and Carlos Espí scored.
José Mourinho said Vinícius Júnior needs time to regain sharpness after a halftime entry that produced one shot.
Reports claim Rodri prefers Barcelona, leaving a gap in José Mourinho’s midfield plans.
José Mourinho substituted Eduardo Camavinga for Bernardo Silva at halftime, kept Silva despite low fitness, and added Jorge Cestero for stability.

Summary

Real Madrid Europe-Only

Real Madrid will keep its 2026-27 preseason entirely in Europe, ending the recent habit of U.S. tours.
The itinerary adds a home game versus newly promoted RC Deportivo and a friendly with Schalke 04 on Aug. 16, both organized from Valdebebas.
The Europe-only schedule denies American fans a preview of Mourinho’s new squad, after eight of the ten prior preseasons featured U.S. exhibitions except in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID.

History

Historical Context

Real Madrid’s 1995 U.S. preseason tour earned $12 million and became the template for U.S. trips through 2023. The 2023 Soccer Champions Tour, created by Sixth Street after the International Champions Cup ended in 2019, attracted a record 82,000-person El Clásico and averaged 71,036 fans, underscoring the market before the 2026 World Cup. Choosing an all-European 2026-27 preseason now marks a strategic shift away from that revenue model.

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Real Madrid Win

Real Madrid beat Ferencváros 2–1 on 8 August 2026; Mario Rivas and Carlos Espí scored.
José Mourinho said Vinícius Júnior needs time to regain sharpness after a halftime entry that produced one shot.
Reports claim Rodri prefers Barcelona, leaving a gap in José Mourinho’s midfield plans.
José Mourinho substituted Eduardo Camavinga for Bernardo Silva at halftime, kept Silva despite low fitness, and added Jorge Cestero for stability.

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