Benfica 5 - 2 Real Madrid (Friendly)

Real Madrid were beaten by Benfica in their second test of the pre-season. The Whites, who got to the break with the match all square, felt the impact of their absent players and from their limited two-week preparation. They were playing against a much slicker team that arrived at the game with five friendlies behind them and almost the entirety of their squad available. Nevertheless, the fitness showed as Real Madrid made it to the break with the scoreboard even and in the way that they played stretching their opponents was reflected in Callejón’s two goals. Benzema, Kaká and Coentrão played their first minutes of the pre-season. The next match for Mourinho’s players will take place in Los Angeles against the LA Galaxy.

Benfica 5 - 2 Real Madrid

Benfica and Real Madrid put on a good spectacle in tribute to Eusebio. True to the unpredictable scenarios of the pre-season, there were four goals scored in just 22 minutes. The first strike was by the home side four minutes after the referee blew the starting whistle. The youth academy player Javi García, who headed in unopposed from a free kick taken by Martins, put his side ahead against his former team. Benfica, much better-oiled and with four more games behind them than Real Madrid, imposed their home team advantage and longer preparation time. Until Real Madrid showed off one of its greatest assets, stretching the play, to turn the marker on two almost consecutive occasions in which Callejón played a key role. For the first goal the youth academy player squad received a precise pass from Di María, which took the scores level in the stadium Da Luz (18'). For the second, two minutes later he got in front of his markers and latched onto a through ball from Higuaín before beating Artur one-on-one.

Benfica reacted quickly. They scored three minutes later in a play very similar to that which opened the scoring. Martins once again crossed in a wide free kick and this time was the Belgian Witsel who head in to beat Adan (22'). The match was all square again the game again showed Mourinho to have been right. "The match against Benfica will be tough. In midfield forward we have many players, but we have no one at the back because they are on holidays" said the coach in the press conference prior to the clash. Both teams had chances to take the lead again before the break. Cardozo, in the goalmouth, had the clearest, but his shot went high when he had already beaten Adán (31'). Minutes before Callejón had another, but the clear shove from Maxi Pereira in the area prevented him his getting the shot away (24 '). The Whites’ midfielder, who was looking for his hat-trick, appealed to the officials.

Mourinho opted to put out the same men after the break that had started the game. And, as happened in the first half, it was Benfica who unbalanced scoreline. This time with a measure of good luck. Enzo Pérez, who came on to the field at the restart, crossed the ball and the curl that he put on the ball took Adán by surprise with the ball ended in the back of the net (53 '). They were the home team’s best minutes and Witsel reinforced that it with a some great play that ending in Martins getting the fourth (58'). The Whites’ coach brought on Coentrão and Benzema for Kaká and Iván (62'). The Portuguese was given a standing ovation by his old fans, who, like the Frenchman, was playing his first minutes of the pre-season. Only Benzema could bring even more excitement to the stands. He shot from Di María’s cross but his it was stopped on the goal line by Artur (65 '). With five minutes remaining, Enzo Pérez scored his second goal and his team’s fifth in a clash in the stadium Da Luz in which the Whites showed their limited training compared to their better prepared opposition.

Summary

Stadium: La Luz
Attendance: 35,000
Goals: 1-0, m.4: Javi Garcia; 1-1, min.18: Callejon; 1-2, min.19: Callejon; 2-2, min.21: Witsel; 3-2: Enzo Perez, min. 53; 4-2: Carlos Martins, min.58; 5-2: Enzo Perez, min.85.

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