Real Madrid start pre-season tour with 2-1 loss to Man Utd

Real Madrid start pre-season tour with 2-1 loss to Man Utd

Jose Mourinho's Manchester United have ended their US tour with a 2-1 win over Real Madrid in Miami.

Alexis Sanchez, who was man-of-the-match, converted Matteo Darmian's cutback to break the deadlock after 18 minutes. Ander Herrera doubled United's advantage nine minutes later when he lashed home Sanchez's knockdown.

Karim Benzema pulled one back for Los Blancos but it was ultimately wasn't enough as United rounded off a largely disappointing tour with a victory.

Fans at Hard Rock Stadium witnessed the official start of Real Madrid's post-Ronaldo era. The Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo left Madrid for Italian club Juventus this summer.

Real’s new talent Vinicius was a handful for a United back-three featuring Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Scott McTominay, but Madrid were overpowered in the first half.

Sanchez broke the deadlock in the 18th minute for his second goal in two matches when Andreas Pereira played through Matteo Darmian and the wantaway Italian cut the ball back for the in-form Chilean to sweep home.

United doubled the lead nine minutes later after Darmian, Mata and Sanchez combined in a sensational team move to tee up Herrera, who fired a half-volley past Kiko Casilla approaching the half-hour mark.

Bale and Benzema struggled to impact proceedings, until the latter pulled a goal back in first-half stoppage time when the Frenchman latched onto a Theo Hernandez cross as United's defence switched off.

It was Real Madrid's first preseason game, while Manchester United had played four friendlies before Saturday. Tony Kroos, Isco, Marco Asensio and Nacho came in as subs in the 77th minute, much to the delight of the fans.

''This was our first test, and the way our players performed was more than acceptable,'' Real Madrid's new coach Julen Lopetegui said after the game, adding that his team was at a disadvantage against a Man U team that had played four games.

''Right now, the most important thing is not the result, it is all the other little factors. We're trying to grow as a team, and get the most of the players we have.''

 

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