Real Madrid's pre-season preparations under José Mourinho began with a 2-2 draw against Fiorentina, a match in which Los Blancos sparkled early on but ultimately surrendered a two-goal cushion.

The Spaniards flew out of the traps, quickly implementing the tactical blueprints of their new Portuguese manager. With Trent Alexander-Arnold operating in a deep-lying role during the build-up and Denzel Dumfries providing relentless width on the right flank, Real Madrid dictated the tempo from the opening whistle.

Their early pressure bore fruit in the 11th minute. Arda Güler picked out Álvaro Carreras on the left, and the full-back’s pinpoint low cross was met by Endrick, who reacted quickest to ghost past the Italian defence and slot home with his left foot to break the deadlock.

The Madridista onslaught showed no signs of slowing and they were rewarded with a sublime second in the 23rd minute. Camavinga surged through the heart of the midfield before feeding Güler, whose intelligent dummy completely bamboozled the Viola backline. That allowed Alexis Ciria to arrive late from deep and drill a cross-shot into the far corner to make it 2-0.

However, just as the match seemed to be drifting away from them, Fiorentina clawed their way back into the contest in the 40th minute. Álex Jiménez swung a cross in from the right, and Roberto Piccoli stole in at the back post to beat Lunin, breathing new life into the encounter before the interval.

Following the restart, Fabio Grosso turned to his bench, introducing Dodô, Nicolò Fagioli, and Moise Kean—substitutions that swung the momentum firmly in the Italians' favour. The response was almost immediate.

In the 58th minute, Fagioli delivered an inviting cross into the heart of the area, where Moise Kean outjumped Mario Rivas to power a header home, punishing a noticeable dip in intensity from Real Madrid.

Sensing the shift, Mourinho shuffled his pack, handing minutes to Cestero, Carlos Espí, Daniel Yáñez, Lacosta, and Lamini Fati. The changes helped Real Madrid regain their composure in the closing stages as they went in search of a winner.

The best opportunity fell to debutant Carlos Espí in the 81st minute. The youngster showed great strength to receive the ball with his back to goal and spin his marker, only to see his goalbound effort heroically blocked by the Italian defence.

Despite a late flurry of pressure from Los Blancos, Fiorentina stood firm to claim a share of the spoils. While Mourinho will be frustrated by the result, there were plenty of positives to take from the displays of Endrick, Arda Güler, Camavinga, and Dumfries. The contribution of young Alexis Ciria was particularly noteworthy on a night that showcased Madrid's offensive flair, even if their defensive cohesion remains a work in progress ahead of the new campaign.

Alexis Ciria

Achievements