Al-Rayyan defeats Schalke... and Barcelona shines with a friendly win over Basel

Barcelona sign Rodri from Manchester City for $87 million... Villarreal draw in La Liga

Real Madrid, the Spanish runners-up, secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over German side Schalke in their final friendly match. The game saw French striker Kylian Mbappé score one of the goals and made the debut of new record signing, Ivorian forward Yamal Diomande.

Mbappé, making his first appearance under manager José Mourinho, put the "Royal" club ahead in the sixth minute. Dean Housen doubled the lead with a header from an Arda Güler corner kick. Carlos Espí added a third for Real Madrid in the second half, before the introduction of Diomande, whose transfer fee was reported at 140 million euros ($162 million), alongside English international Jude Bellingham.

Meanwhile, Spanish champions Barcelona enjoyed a 5-2 win over Swiss side Basel in a friendly that featured the first appearance of summer signing English winger Anthony Gordon, since his move from Newcastle.

Another new arrival, German forward Karim Adeyemi, gave the Catalan club the lead, but young Swiss player Jean-Daniel Akpa-Akpro equalized for the Swiss side before halftime. Egyptian striker Hamza Alaa-Eldine restored Barcelona's lead early in the second half. Lamine Yamal scored the third goal from a penalty after Frenchman Jules Koundé was fouled, marking his first appearance since winning the World Cup with Spain. Belgian player Kazim Olawale reduced the deficit for Basel from a penalty spot, before fellow Belgian Jesse Biesiau, who joined Barcelona from Club Brugge, scored two goals in a late but impactful appearance.

Barcelona will play their final friendly against Egyptian club Al Ahly at home tomorrow, before starting their La Liga campaign against Elche on the 23rd in the second phase.

In other news, Barcelona has reached an agreement with Manchester City to sign Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, according to a source at the Catalan club told AFP. The 30-year-old midfielder, who was part of Spain's World Cup-winning squad in North America last year, is set to move for approximately 75 million euros ($87 million), according to media reports.

Meanwhile, Villarreal earned a valuable point away at hosts Racing Santander, who returned to the top flight after 14 years of absence this season, coming back from a two-goal deficit to draw 2-2 in the opening round of La Liga. Home goals came from Andrés Martín (21st minute, penalty) and Sergio Martínez (34th).

However, the visitors struck hard just before halftime through Senegalese player Babigui (45th minute) and Ivorian player Nicolas Pepe (45+1st minute). Racing Santander had eliminated Villarreal from the King's Cup last season, beating them 2-1 in the Round of 32.

Also, Espanyol, who managed only two wins from 21 matches in La Liga in 2026, started the new season with a convincing 3-0 win over visitors Levante.