Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and Denzel Dumfries
Photo by Christian Bruna/Getty Images
Real Madrid have named their starting lineup for their final pre-season match against Schalke, with Ibrahima Konate immediately taking centre stage.
The French defender is set to make his first appearance for Los Blancos following his summer arrival from Liverpool, giving Jose Mourinho one final opportunity to assess his new signing before the 2026/27 La Liga campaign begins.
Konate is one of several new faces available in the squad alongside Marc Cucurella and Yan Diomande, although he is the only one of the three to receive a place in the starting XI.
The match also sees several established stars return to the lineup, with Thibaut Courtois, Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappé all included from the start.
Konate gets chance to impress Mourinho
Konate’s debut comes at an interesting moment for Real Madrid, and Mourinho will be keen to see how Konate adapts to his new teammates and how quickly he can settle into Real Madrid’s defensive structure.
📋✅ ¡Nuestro XI inicial!
🆚 @s04_es
👉 @UnicajaBanco pic.twitter.com/LO8LqmcdqZ
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 16, 2026
A pre-season debut will not determine the Frenchman’s position in the long-term pecking order, but the timing gives him a useful opportunity to make an early impression.
Meanwhile, Cucurella and Diomande are also part of the squad and will be utilised in the second half, giving fans their first glimpse of the two blockbuster signings.
Notably, Real Madrid travel into their final pre-season fixture without several first-team options.
Aurelien Tchouaméni is unavailable, while Endrick has also missed out as he continues to be carefully managed following recent physical discomfort.
Mourinho is also without Raul Asencio, Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Thiago Pitarch, all of whom are unavailable due to injury.
Endrick, Federico Valverde, Real Madrid players
Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images
Federico Valverde and Andriy Lunin, Real Madrid players
Valverde is Real Madrid’s first captain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/Getty Images)
Aurelien Tchouameni, Real Madrid and France player
Tchouameni is expected to be Mourinho’s ideal fit. (Photo by Buda Mendes/Getty Images)