
Real Madrid beat Ferencvaros 2-1 in Budapest friendly as Bernardo Silva makes debut
Goals from Mario Rivas and Carlos Espí secured victory for José Mourinho’s side, with Vinícius Júnior returning and new signing Silva featuring in the second half.
Real Madrid opened the scoring four minutes before half-time when young centre-back Mario Rivas met Álex Ciria’s cross with a diving header, converting a corner delivered by Arda Güler. The Hungarian champions had earlier frustrated the Spanish side, with goalkeeper Dénes Dibusz denying Endrick from close range, but Rivas’s acrobatic finish gave Mourinho’s team a deserved lead at the break.
Mourinho made sweeping changes at the interval, introducing Vinícius Júnior for his first appearance since signing a contract extension until 2032, and handing a debut to summer arrival Bernardo Silva. The Portuguese playmaker slotted into midfield as Carlos Espí, a recent acquisition from Levante, replaced Rivas and promptly doubled the advantage. Four minutes after the restart, Espí finished off a move orchestrated by Federico Valverde to make it 2-0.
Ferencvaros responded six minutes later through Kenan Kodro, son of former Barcelona striker Meho Kodro, who pulled a goal back to set up a tense final half-hour. Despite the hosts’ renewed energy, Real Madrid managed the game without further alarm, with Vinícius showing flashes of his quality and Silva displaying the composure that prompted his move from Manchester City.
The match was the second of Madrid’s pre-season programme, with several key players—including Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Marc Cucurella—still on leave after the World Cup. Mourinho used the occasion to assess fringe players and new signings, with Endrick starting and playing 64 minutes before being replaced. Real Madrid continue their preparations with a friendly away to Deportivo La Coruña on Wednesday, before opening their La Liga campaign at Espanyol on 22 August.
| Latin American press | +0.60 | aligned |
|---|---|---|
| Continental European press | +0.10 | neutral |
Real Madrid is back to winning, and its young talents are ready to make history.
It focuses on the personal stories of the players to create an emotional connection, turning the match into a celebration.
It does not mention the difficulty of the match, presenting the victory as more decisive than it was.
The victory came, but with difficulty; Bernardo Silva's debut is the positive note.
It simply reports the facts of the match and the debut, maintaining a neutral and analytical tone.
It does not mention Vinícius Jr.'s renewal or Endrick's presence, which are central to the Latin American audience.
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