Real Madrid only returned to training on Monday for their shortened preseason, as a result of the Club World Cup, with La Liga kicking off in just a week’s time. On Friday, Los Blancos held a behind closed doors friendly against Leganes.
Alonso’s side are undergoing an unusual preparation and acclimatisation process, and have arranged a friendly for next Tuesday, and will take on Austrian side WSG Tirol. On Friday, Los Blancos ran out 4-1 winnners over Segunda side Leganes at Valdebebas, as per Cadena Cope.
The goals for Real Madrid were scored by Dean Huijsen, Eder Militao and Brahim Diaz, as well as young midfielder Thiago Pitarch. The 18-year-old operates as a central midfielder, the position which many feel Los Blancos are short in, and has been training with Xabi Alonso’s side this wee.
Pitarch, who arrived at Real Madrid via Leganes two seasons ago, was part of the second half team that Alonso sent out. The Basque manager went for a back four, in contrast to several games at the Club World Cup, and the front three that started in their semi-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The starting line-up consisted of: Thibaut Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras; Fede Valverde, Dani Ceballos, Brahim Diaz; Vinicius Junior, Gonzalo Garcia Torres and Kylian Mbappe.
Plenty has also been made of the future of David Alaba at Real Madrid too, with Los Blancos seemingly keen to move on from the Austrian veteran. He is set to start well down the pecking order at centre-back, but as per Rodra of ESPN, Alonso tested him out in midfield in the second half of the match.
Los Blancos are currently without Endrick Felipe, Ferland Mendy and Jude Bellingham through injury, who will all be out until mid-September to October.