The 2019/20 Real Madrid pre-season kicked off with a 3-1 defeat versus Bayern Munich in their International Champions Cup opener on Saturday night at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
On what was the 50th anniversary of the moon landing in the home city of NASA, Real had all the looks of a new Galacticos era in the first half, only to see their finishing stuck in a black hole.
Coach Zinedine Zidane went with a full-strength starting XI, meaning new arrival Eden Hazard earned a start wearing jersey No.50, yet Gareth Bale was nowhere to be seen, despite enjoying a strong start to pre-season training in Montreal. Isco also managed to get the nod, as did Marco Asensio ahead of Vinicius.
Rounding out the line-up was Thibaut Courtois in goal, Dani Carvajal, Raphael Varane, Sergio Ramos and Marcelo in the back, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos joining Isco in midfield, while the aforementioned Asensio, Hazard and Karim Benzema formed the attack.
Los Blancos came out playing in a 4-2-3-1 with Isco pulling the string in central midfield and Benzema up top at centre-forward.
Just moments after a chance for Benzema, Bayern were able to break the deadlock in the 15th minute with Corentin Tolisso following up a shot blocked by Marcelo off the goal-line for a 1-0 lead.
The German outfit may have held the lead, but it was Real creating the quality chances and Hazard was offering up some very good glimpses of what is likely to come in 2019-20.
The Belgian look at his best with the ball at his feet and perhaps with some better finishing from Benzema, Real would have been level at the break.
Zidane changed his entire XI to start the second half, as goalkeeper Keylor Navas and new arrivals Mendy, Kubo and Jovic entered the fray, as did Vinicius among others.
The wholesale changes resulted in a far less dangerous Real attack and Bayern were happy to make the most of it and doubled their lead to 2-0 when Robert Lewandowski received a long ball, turned Adrian De La Fuente and beat Navas.
Things turned from bad to worse for Zidane just minutes later when some very sloppy play and poor defending gifted Serge Gnabry a clear look at goal and the former Arsenal man drilled home his effort for a 3-0 advantage.
New arrival Rodrygo gave the Spanish side a late spark by swooping onto a horrific ill-advised back pass from Bayern and it led to a sending off for Bayern keeper Ulreich. The 18-year-old Brazilian then assumed freekick duties and rocketed in a right-footer into the top right corner of the net to complete the 3-1 scoreline.
Goals: 1-0, min. 15: Tolisso; 2-0, min. 67: Lewandowski; 3-0, min. 69: Gnabry; 3-1, min. 84: Rodrygo
Stadium: NRG
Attendance: 60,413