Real Madrid

José Mourinho’s third year in charge of Real Madrid could not have started in a better fashion. The thrashing of Oviedo (5-1) and their style of play in the Carlos Tartiere Stadium hinted that the Whites are an outstanding group of players. It is now time to back up these good feelings in the pre-season’s second test, the Eusebio Cup. Facing them will be Benfica, who are a well-oiled team thanks to having already played five games (three wins, one draw and one defeat) and unlike the Whites, have virtually all of their squad available. Benzema and Coentrão could each play their first match of the season in a clash that will pay the best possible tribute to Eusebio, a global icon and symbol for Portugal and for football (20:00 Gol T).

The speed with which the Real Madrid players have picked up their coach’s technical ideas at this stage in their preparation suggest that they are able to reach a very high level of play. That, at least, is the conclusion drawn from the thrashing of Oviedo. Now comes the second pre-season match, and with two more days of training behind them, Real Madrid play in the Eusebio Cup against Benfica with the firm intention of continuing to develop their game.

BOTH TEAMS’ PRE-SEASON
	J	G	E	P	GF	GC
Benfica	5	3	1	1	10	5
Real Madrid	1	1	0	0	5	1

It will be the first game that Real Madrid will have played out of our country this season. And they will do so by taking part in a tournament that, in just four years of existence, has become a key date in the international calendar in being able to bring together some of the best teams in the world. Inter Milan, AC Milan, Tottenham and Arsenal have previously participated. Real Madrid is, therefore, the first Spanish club to take part.

Mourinho, Di María and Coentrão have already won the Eusebio Cup

Mourinho, who hours before the clash will receive the Prestígio Fernando Soromenho prize (the highest distinction awarded by the Association of Sports Journalists of Portugal (CNID), Di María and Coentrão have already participated in the Eusebio Cup and have managed to win this prestigious summer trophy. The Whites’ coach, who is unbeaten in the 17 friendlies that he has coached the team, was on the bench for Inter Milan as they beat the home side in a penalty shootout in the first edition (0-0). The last two did so as members of the Benfica squad beating Milan, also from 12-yards (1-1). The Portuguese wing-back came on to the field in to replace the Argentine in that match.

PREVIOUS EDITIONS OF THE EUSEBIO CUP
YEAR	MATCH
2008	Benfica 0(4) - 0(5) Inter
2009	Benfica 1(5) - 1(4) Milan
2010	Benfica 0 - 1 Tottenham
2011	Benfica 2- 1 Arsenal

It will also be a very emotional match for both players as it will be the first time that they will face their former team in a Real Madrid. Coentrão wanted to be part of the clash so much that he came back early from his holidays. "I want to meet up with many people who I admire and above all I want to be with the wonderful fans that I always carry in my heart. It will be a game between two great teams and we want it to be an intense and exciting evening of football" said Portuguese international recently. As well as the Portuguese, Benzema could also play his first minutes of the season.

Benfica, slicker and with virtually the entire squad available
The Portuguese team much better-oiled than Real Madrid after having played five games (beating Marseille, RM Hamm Benfica and Slask Wroclaw, drawing with the French team Lille and losing to PSV) and, unlike their opponent, will enter the clash with virtually their entire squad available. Martins, who played on loan at Granada last season, and Cardozo are the top scorers (three goals each) for a team that come into the meeting highly motivated. Belgian midfielder Witsel’s words confirm this: "It will be the sternest test of the pre-season and we want to make our fans happy”.

► ALL INFORMATION ABOUT BENFICA

Eusebio: "The Benfica fans will see the best team in the world in their stadium “The most successful club in our country and have the club that has won the most Portuguese titles will be up against each other in the stadium Da Luz. The 64 league titles that they have between them (interestingly 32 each) guarantee a spectacle and the best possible tribute to Eusebio, a global icon and symbol for Portugal and for football" It will be a great match" predicts the Perla Negra.g