The Karim Benzema-less era at Real Madrid kicked off with a come-from-behind 3-2 victory against Milan in Pasadena.
Much of the talk surrounding Los Blancos this summer has once again focussed on the potential arrival of Kylian Mbappe, with the Frenchman seemingly intent on joining the club either this summer or next.
Carlo Ancelotti, however, can only work with what he’s got and a huge season beckons for the Madrid club after they ended 2022/23 with just the Copa del Rey in their back pocket. Their pre-season began in California on Sunday with a resolute Rossoneri taking a 2-0 first-half lead.
Madrid, however, rallied after the restart and struck late on to secure a 3-2 triumph. Here are the best and worst performers from their pre-season victory.
Federico Valverde
Ancelotti initially deployed a 4-4-2 diamond with Swiss Army knife Valverde operating as an interior on the right. The Uruguayan midfielder has performed a myriad of roles for Los Blancos since breaking into the first team and, on paper, this appears to be a role that suits Valverde down to the ground.
However, it wasn’t the cleanest of performances from the midfielder, who occasionally looked lost positionally in possession, but it was he who proved decisive in turning things around in Pasadena. After Marco Sportiello allowed his shot from range to trickle home to halve the deficit, Valverde equalised two minutes later after pouncing on Fikayo Tomori’s loose pass and firing beyond the Italian goalkeeper.
His quite remarkable engine ensured he was the only player on the night to play the entire contest, with his incessant running and drive proving problematic for Milan after Madrid restored parity.
After a mixed 2022/23, this was a strong start to the new campaign for Valverde.
Honourable mention
Jude Bellingham
The England international impressed on his Madrid debut. Deployed just off Brahim Diaz and Joselu, Bellingham was given plenty of freedom by his manager to showcase his talent in advanced areas.
His work in a congested midfield was divine, with Bellingham doing an excellent job of retaining possession under pressure and distributing off one and two touches. Milan’s pivot couldn’t get near him as a result, and he already looks to have established quite the dynamic with Eduardo Camavinga.
There’s room for improvement in the final third, that’s for sure, but Bellingham possesses an aura that screams ‘Galactico’.
Nacho Fernandez
New club captain Nacho endured a tricky outing on Sunday as he was directly responsible for Milan’s second goal (he wasn’t great for the first either).
The Spaniard’s clearance was woeful and picked off in midfield by Milan. Two passes and a pinpoint effort from range later, Luka Romero was wheeling away in celebration having doubled the Rossoneri’s lead.
While he is club captain, Nacho is unlikely to emerge as a regular for Ancelotti next season given the abundance of talent Madrid boast at the heart of their defence. The Spaniard is currently fourth in the depth chart, and sequences such as the one mentioned will do little to help his cause for more minutes.
Dishonourable mention
Andriy Lunin
Thibaut Courtois’ brilliance means it’s unlikely anybody else will get a sniff next season, but 24-year-old Lunin certainly didn’t do much to persuade Ancelotti he’s worth having around.
While there was little he could do to deny Romero from doubling Milan’s lead, his work for Milan’s first left plenty to be desired. Lunin was indecisive from an inswinging Christian Pulisic corner, eventually opting to stay at home, which allowed Fikayo Tomori to nod home with ease. While Nacho’s marking was suspect, Lunin perhaps could’ve made an effort to claim the high ball or at least punch it away.
