Ferencvaros vs Real Madrid has given José Mourinho another important opportunity to test his new-look squad, with Endrick leading the attack and Bernardo Silva and Vinicius Junior beginning the preseason friendly on the bench in Budapest.
Real Madrid named a youthful but competitive starting XI for their second official preseason test. At the latest live update available from Diario Madridista, the match remained 0-0 after 33 minutes, with Madrid controlling significant spells but struggling to break down an organized Ferencvaros defense.
Ferencvaros vs Real Madrid Starting Lineup
Mourinho selected Andriy Lunin in goal, with Denzel Dumfries, Mario Rivas, Joan Martínez and Álvaro Carreras forming the back four.
Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga started in midfield, while Arda Güler operated further forward alongside Brahim Díaz and academy prospect Alexis Ciria. Endrick was chosen to lead the attack. Real Madrid’s official website confirmed the full XI before kickoff.
Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Dumfries, Mario Rivas, Joan Martínez, Carreras; Valverde, Camavinga; Brahim, Arda Güler, Alexis Ciria; Endrick.
The bench also attracted plenty of attention. Vinicius Junior was among the substitutes following his recently announced contract renewal, while Bernardo Silva was named in a Real Madrid matchday squad with the possibility of making his debut. Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen and Carlos Espí were also available to Mourinho.
That combination gives this friendly considerably more interest than a standard preseason exercise. Mourinho is evaluating younger players while also beginning to integrate major first-team options ahead of the competitive schedule.
Endrick Gets Another Major Opportunity
Endrick’s inclusion at center forward is one of the biggest stories from the lineup.
The Brazilian began the match aggressively, pressing high and attempting to make himself available in the penalty area. His best early chance arrived in the 11th minute when Arda Güler produced a dangerous delivery toward the near post, but Endrick sent his effort over the crossbar.
The opportunity matters because competition for attacking minutes is becoming increasingly intense.
Preseason is one of the few periods when a young forward can accumulate substantial minutes without every selection being judged purely through immediate results. Endrick needs to use those opportunities to demonstrate that he can provide more than finishing — pressing, movement, link-up play and tactical discipline will all influence Mourinho’s decisions.
He is not the only young player under examination.
Alexis Ciria also retained his place after featuring prominently during Madrid’s previous preseason outing. Against Ferencvaros, Ciria showed confidence by driving toward goal and shooting from outside the area during the opening 15 minutes.
For Mourinho, performances from players such as Endrick and Ciria could become important when determining the final hierarchy of his attacking rotation.
Arda Güler Looks Like Madrid’s Main Creative Threat
While the score remained level through the first half-hour, Arda Güler produced some of Madrid’s most promising moments.
The Turkish international went close in the seventh minute with a shot that narrowly missed the post. Four minutes later, he created Endrick’s opportunity with a well-placed cross into the penalty area.
Arda also combined effectively with Dumfries on the right side, with one move ending in a blocked effort from the Dutch defender.
Those sequences offered another glimpse of how Mourinho might use Güler this season. Instead of restricting him to a conventional wide role, Madrid can give him freedom to move between the lines, receive possession centrally and create chances from different angles.
His technical quality is already established. The next step is becoming consistently influential across entire matches.
Preseason provides Mourinho with an ideal opportunity to experiment with where Arda receives the ball and which players best complement him.
Ferencvaros Make Madrid Work in Budapest
Real Madrid have controlled periods of possession, but Ferencvaros have not simply accepted a defensive role.
The Hungarian side created early danger and appealed for a penalty after the ball struck Dumfries’ hand inside the area in the fifth minute. No penalty was awarded. Ferencvaros later threatened again with a delivery into Madrid’s penalty area that resulted in a header going over.
As the match approached the half-hour mark, Diario Madridista noted that Madrid were having difficulty finding spaces against a disciplined home defense. Mourinho was pictured looking serious on the bench with the game still scoreless after 33 minutes.
That type of challenge can be useful during preseason.
Madrid will regularly face teams defending compactly once competitive soccer begins. Friendlies are an opportunity to develop solutions without the pressure of league points, particularly when Mourinho is still establishing combinations between new players, established stars and academy prospects.
The match is also Real Madrid’s first appearance at the Ferencváros Stadion. The club confirmed before kickoff that its trip to Budapest represented the second preseason test of the summer.
Bernardo Silva and Vinicius Could Change the Game
The second half could be even more revealing because of the options Mourinho has available from the bench.
Bernardo Silva is the player many supporters will be watching most closely. Real Madrid’s official preview confirmed his inclusion in the squad and noted that he could make his debut against Ferencvaros.
His introduction would immediately provide another creative reference point.
Bernardo’s ability to play centrally or from wider positions gives Mourinho flexibility, particularly when Madrid need greater control in possession. How the coach deploys him during preseason could offer the first clues about his eventual role.
Vinicius is another obvious option.
The Brazilian started on the bench following his contract renewal, meaning Mourinho can introduce fresh pace against a Ferencvaros defense that has spent much of the game protecting space around its penalty area. Diario Madridista confirmed before kickoff that both Vinicius and Bernardo would initially have to wait for their opportunity.
Preseason substitutions are primarily about conditioning and experimentation, but the combinations Mourinho chooses will still be worth monitoring.
Real Madrid Debuts Its Green Away Kit
The Budapest friendly also brought the competitive debut of Real Madrid’s green second kit for the 2026-27 season.
Madrid traditionally play in white whenever possible, so a completely different color always creates a noticeable visual change. Diario Madridista reported before kickoff that Mourinho’s side would wear the green strip for the first time in this preseason match.
The cosmetic detail may be secondary to Mourinho’s tactical work, but it adds another new element to a summer already featuring significant squad changes.
What This Means for Real Madrid
The result matters less than what Mourinho learns.
Endrick is receiving another opportunity to establish himself. Arda Güler is showing increasing responsibility in the creative phase. Joan Martínez and Mario Rivas are being tested in defense, while Bernardo Silva and Vinicius are available to change the rhythm later in the game.
Madrid are also beginning to move closer to competitive conditions. The official club preview described the Ferencvaros game as the second preseason test and confirmed that Madrid’s competitive schedule is approaching.
That means Mourinho’s experiments will gradually become selections with greater consequences.
Supporters following the preseason should pay particular attention to Endrick’s minutes, Bernardo Silva’s integration, Arda Güler’s role and Mourinho’s preferred defensive combinations. Those battles could tell us far more about the coming season than the final score of any individual friendly.
What Happens Next?
The immediate focus in Ferencvaros vs Real Madrid will be on Mourinho’s second-half changes and whether Madrid can convert their possession into goals.
Vinicius and Bernardo Silva give the coach two high-profile options from the bench, while several other first-team defenders are also available. With the score still 0-0 at the latest published update, the second half could provide the most revealing part of Madrid’s night in Budapest.
For Real Madrid, this is another step toward competitive readiness. The final score will soon be forgotten; Mourinho’s emerging hierarchy, attacking combinations and decisions over his young players could have a much longer impact.
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