So Real Madrid finished the US pre-season stage with three losses. Sure, all three teams were quite competitive and Real's best players weren't available. The team really missed Karim Benzema's contribution, while Bale and Isco couldn't do it all. But this match report needs to be focused on Iker Casillas.
During Friday's press conference, Carlo Ancelotti confirmed that Iker Casillas will start the UEFA Supercup against Sevilla. And it seems that Diego López's departure to Monaco is all but done. That considered, Iker Casillas will kick-off the season as Real Madrid's starting goalkeeper, even if Keylor Navas signs for los blancos. Today, Casillas completed one of the worst performances of his career together with the one against Netherlands during the recent 2014 FIFA World Cup. It's not that he could've done a lot better on all United's three goals. The worrying part for Real Madrid is that he doesn't have one bit of self-confidence. 40 minutes were enough to prove that Iker Casillas' recent performances were not just a nightmare. This is his true level. Manchester United were not even a big offensive threat today. And yet, Casillas conceded three goals. Two of them should've been saved. That's the balance of Casillas' performance. Fair or not, he will most likely stay with the club while López will leave. And that could be a problem.
The good news are that all important players were able to complete the 90 minutes of the game. Cristiano Ronaldo, who was ruled out by Ancelotti on Friday, managed to play for 17 minutes. The Portuguese star looked inevitably rusty after more than one month without training with the rest of the squad, but he should be ready to start the Supercup against Sevilla. Isco and Bale were Real Madrid's two best players, with Alonso and Arbeloa being Real's main weakest spots alongside Casillas.
The team will now come back to Madrid and rejoin James, Benzema and Varane in Valdebebas. If nothing happens, Khedira and Di María will also be back in the Spanish capital next Tuesday. That will be Toni Kroos' first day in Valdebebas as well. Carlo Ancelotti and his coaching staff now have ten days to prepare the squad for the European and Spanish Supercups against Sevilla and Atlético de Madrid respectively.