The pre-season friendly match at the Abanca-Riazor stadium at 2:00 AM on August 13th will be a crucial test for Real Madrid in their preparation for the new season. Despite not having their strongest squad, the Spanish royal club is still expected to dominate the game against Deportivo La Coruna.
Jose Mourinho's personnel and tactical experimentation challenges.
Coach Jose Mourinho enters this match with a relatively complex squad situation. Real Madrid's list of absentees is extensive, with injured players such as Thibaut Courtois, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Raul Asencio, and Rodrygo. In addition, top stars like Jude Bellingham , Kylian Mbappe, Aurelien Tchouameni, Ibrahima Konate, and Marc Cucurella are also unavailable due to not being in top fitness after their holidays.
However, the difficult circumstances have opened up opportunities for experimentation for the Portuguese strategist. The signings of Denzel Dumfries and young talent Ousmane Diomande have helped Los Blancos maintain control of the game from the bench. After the 2-1 victory against Ferencvaros, Real Madrid is gradually regaining its feel for the ball and its precise rhythm of play.
Deportivo La Coruna and the advantage of Aubameyang's experience.
On the other side of the battlefield, Deportivo La Coruna has just marked its return to the top Spanish league after a long period of ups and downs. Coach Antonio Hidalgo's team went through a series of 6 summer friendly matches with a record of 3 wins and 3 losses, including a narrow 1-0 victory against Genoa.
Despite the personnel loss due to the injury of young talent David Mella, Deportivo is still ready to showcase notable new signings such as goalkeeper Leo Roman and especially striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. At 37 years old, this experienced striker is the biggest hope in the home team's attack.
The midfield battle and the key to deciding the match.
Tactically, Deportivo are expected to operate with a 4-3-3 formation, sitting deep in defense and waiting for opportunities to switch tactics using Aubameyang's speed. Conversely, Real Madrid are likely to impose their style of play with a 4-2-3-1 formation with Eduardo Camavinga and Federico Valverde as the central axis.
The midfield promises to be a hotbed of fierce competition. Valverde's attacking prowess and Camavinga's ability to break through pressing will help Real Madrid control the space. Up front, Vinicius Junior – who recently extended his contract – continues to be the most dangerous threat on the wing, combining with Arda Guler and new signing Endrick.
| lineup | Expected starting players |
|---|---|
| Deportivo (4-3-3) | Roman; Altimira, Comas, Ede, Angelino; Villares, Carrillo, Rodriguez; Soriano, Aubameyang, Sanchez. |
| Real Madrid (4-2-3-1) | Lunin; Dumfries, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga; Diaz, Guler, Vinicius; Endrick. |
Besides the midfield battle, the clash between the experience of Aubameyang and the youthfulness of Real Madrid's center-back Dean Huijsen is also a noteworthy highlight. Although Deportivo has the home advantage, the difference in class and squad depth will likely allow Jose Mourinho's team to control the match and aim for a favorable result.