After visiting four countries during their pre-season, Real Madrid has one final tune-up ahead of the 2015-2016 La Liga season against a team from Turkey that has already got their season rolling, Galatasaray. In a friendly game but with a trophy on the line, Rafael Benitez will manage his first game at home.
The Bernabeu Trophy is a "tournament" that has been played ever since 1979, which in the beginning had four teams contesting, but now, and ever since 1987, the Real Madrid only invites one team to challenge them for the Bernabeu Trophy.
In 2011, Galatasaray was the team invited to this meeting, and they lost by 2-1. With the World Cup in 2014, this game was not held. In 2013, Real Madrid beat Al Sadd 5-0 to win it for a 24th time. In 2004, UNAM from Mexico with Hugo Sanchez in
For this match, Benitez is not fixing Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo in certain positions. Instead, he is giving them the freedom to move around the upper front as they please. Sergio Ramos can now focus on playing as the club just announced his contract extension until 2022.
The goalkeeper position also seems that it won't be adding another player to the mix. Kiko Casilla and Keylor Navas may not have to worry about David de Gea anymore. The Manchester United keeper may have to stay another season in England, as Ramos was supposed to be given to the Red Devils in exchange for De Gea.
While there are players that have a safe spot in Madrid's roster for this season, there are others that have a last chance to impress Benitez before their season opener against Sporting Gijon. Asier Illarramendi, Fabio Coentrao and Marco Asensio are on the borderline from being relegated from the first team and possibly sent on loan somewhere else. The transfer window is still open so their future in the Spanish capital isn't safe yet.
Galatasaray is making a short stop in their season to visit Madrid
Galatasarray already started their season with a 2-2 draw against Sivasspor. The Turkish team has decided to leave top scorer Burak Yilmaz and defender Aurelien Chedjou out of this game so they get to rest enough for their next season match. If they hadn't
In eight head to head matches between these two teams, the Merengues have won five, lost two and tied in one. It was in the 2012-2013 Champions League season that the both sides met for the last time. In that occasion, Madrid won 4-1.
The visiting team hopes to make the trip worth it.jpg?q=75&w=634)
Team sheets for Real Madrid vs Galatasaray
Real Madrid's lineup: Navas, Ramos, Nacho, Ronaldo, Kroos, Bale, Marcelo, Modric, Jesé, Isco, Danilo.
Galatasaray's lineup: Muslera, Tarık, Koray, Hakan, Carole, Selçuk, Jose Rodriguez, Emre Çolak, Sneijder, Podolski, Umut.
Real Madrid's subs: Casilla, Yáñez, James, Casemiro, Carvajal, Arbeloa, Vázquez, Cheryshev, Illarra, Borja Mayoral.
Galatasaray's subs: Cipe, Kisa, Karacan, Oztekin, Telles, Adin, Sarioglu.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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