OFFICIAL: Mourinho reveals his lineup against Schalke 04

José Mourinho has named his starting XI for Real Madrid’s final preseason friendly against Schalke 04, with the Portuguese coach opting for a very strong lineup ahead of the start of the 2026/27 La Liga campaign.

Real Madrid face Schalke 04 at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen this Sunday, August 16, in what represents Mourinho’s final opportunity to test his preferred system before competitive football begins. The match kicks off at 5:00 p.m. CEST.

For this final preseason test, Mourinho has decided to field several of his most important players from the opening whistle, including Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior, Federico Valverde and Thibaut Courtois.

Real Madrid’s Starting XI Against Schalke 04

Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konaté, Dean Huijsen, Álvaro Carreras; Federico Valverde, Bernardo Silva; Brahim Díaz, Arda Güler, Vinicius Junior; Kylian Mbappé.

The selection gives a strong indication of what Mourinho could be considering for the beginning of the season. Courtois returns between the posts, while Trent Alexander-Arnold starts on the right side of defence. Álvaro Carreras occupies the opposite flank.

One of the biggest attractions is Ibrahima Konaté, who makes his first appearance in the starting lineup alongside Dean Huijsen in central defence. The French defender has an important opportunity to impress Mourinho, particularly with Éder Militão and Raúl Asencio currently unavailable.

Mbappé Leads the Attack

In midfield, Mourinho has selected a double pivot consisting of Federico Valverde and Bernardo Silva. Their combination offers Real Madrid energy, technical quality and the ability to control possession while also pressing aggressively when the ball is lost.

Ahead of them, Arda Güler will once again occupy a central creative role. The Turkish international has been one of the most frequently used players during preseason and now gets another opportunity to show Mourinho that he deserves an important place in the team.

Brahim Díaz starts on the right, while Vinicius Junior takes his familiar position on the left.

The biggest news, however, is the presence of Kylian Mbappé as the central striker. After returning to training following his post-World Cup break, the French superstar is finally ready to get minutes before the new campaign begins.

VINÍCIUS JR Y JOSÉ MOURINHO 😍🤍 pic.twitter.com/HRvTrSxuKx

— (fan) REAL MADRID FANS 🤍 (@AdriRM33) August 14, 2026

Mourinho Sends a Strong Message

This is clearly one of the strongest teams Mourinho has selected during preseason. Unlike previous friendlies, which allowed several youngsters and fringe players to prove themselves, the Schalke match looks much more like a dress rehearsal for competitive football.

Real Madrid will begin their La Liga campaign against Espanyol on Saturday, August 22, at the RCDE Stadium.

Mourinho therefore has one final match to assess his team, refine his tactical ideas and determine which players are ready to form the backbone of his starting XI.

Against Schalke, the experimentation is beginning to disappear. Real Madrid are starting to look like the team Mourinho intends to take into the new season.