Real Madrid pre-season fixtures: Full schedule, opponents and missing players

Real Madrid are about to embark on pre-season with Jose Mourinho back in charge. This article will give you the details of all of their confirmed friendly matches. Player availability will depend on when they return from the World Cup, injuries, and transfers. Some fixtures may be subject to change.

Real Madrid's full pre-season fixture list

Real Madrid begin their pre-season with a behind-closed-doors match against Leganes. They then face Fiorentina in Austria before playing Deportivo La Coruña in the Teresa Herrera Trophy. This is the 81st edition of the tournament, which Deportivo host every year. There have also been rumors about a friendly with Schalke 04 at the Veltins Arena. However, this is yet to be confirmed. The match with Leganes will not be broadcast. However, the other two confirmed friendlies are expected to be on Real Madrid TV.

Where are Real Madrid travelling for pre-season?

Los Blancos' main camp will be at their training ground, Ciudad Real Madrid. Preparations began there on July 13 with a reduced squad, as many players were still at the World Cup. They then travel to Austria to play Fiorentina. Going to Austria has become common for Real Madrid recently for pre-season, as it is not far to travel and cooler than the Spanish heat.

As Austria borders Germany, Real Madrid could go on to face Schalke on the same trip. However, they will have to return to Spain for their friendly with Deportivo on August 1.

Which Real Madrid players are missing pre-season?

Confirmed absences

Rodrygo is recovering from a long-term injury, so he will miss the entirety of pre-season and almost half of the competitive campaign. Éder Militão and Ferland Mendy are also set to miss pre-season through injury.

Expected Absences

Players such as Arda Guler, Federico Valverde and Antonio Rudiger are already back from the World Cup as their countries did not reach the latter stages of the competition. However, players from teams that reached the quarter-finals and beyond are still not back yet.

Which new signings could make their Real Madrid debut?

Real Madrid's confirmed new signings so far are Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Bernardo Silva. Cucurella and Silva have just won the World Cup with Spain so they could make their debut against Deportivo on August 12. The same goes for Ibrahima Konate, who reached the bronze-medal match with France.

Denzel Dumfries could make his debut in one of the earlier friendlies, as his Netherlands side only reached the round of 32 at the World Cup. Several academy graduates could get a chance this pre-season. This includes Joan Martínez, Jorge Cestero, and César Palacios.

Supporters will be keen to see academy graduates Gonzalo García and Franco Mastantuono get more of a chance in the first team. However, both players could leave the club on loan. Other players who could also depart this summer include Raúl Asencio, Eduardo Camavinga, Andriy Lunin and Brahim Díaz.

What will Jose Mourinho want to achieve during pre-season?

Pre-season is about getting players back to full fitness after their time off. However, Mourinho will want to implement his style of play on the squad. He has been brought in to end Real Madrid's trophy drought of two seasons. Therefore, he will also be looking to instill a winning mentality in his players.

Los Blancos have got a lot of business done early brining in experienced players. Integrating these players into the club will be crucial if they are to have success this season. Pre-season will also give academy players the chance to impress.

An interesting player battle will be Trent Alexander-Arnold and Denzel Dumfries competing for the right-back spot. Alexander-Arnold was not included in England's squad for the World Cup and is seen as too attacking for a Mourinho system.

When does Real Madrid's La Liga season start?

Real Madrid's opening La Liga match is away to Espanyol on August 22. This is 10 days after their final pre-season match with Deportivo. The match against Deportivo will be a chance for Mourinho to field his strongest lineup possible ahead of the competitive campaign.

Timeline: Pre-season started July 13, Friendly with Leganes July 28, Real Madrid vs Fiorentina August 1, Deportivo vs Los Blancos August 12, La Liga opener August 22.

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This article was originally published on therealchamps.com as Real Madrid pre-season fixtures: Full schedule, opponents and missing players.