Welcome to
Sports Mole's live text coverage of the friendly between
Red Bull Salzburg and
Real Madrid at the Red Bull Arena in Austria.
Los Blancos have endured an underwhelming pre-season campaign thus far, though they did put defeats to Atletico Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur behind them last week with victory over Benfica.
Zinedine Zidane has just two more matches to get things right ahead of the new La Liga campaign, which begins with a trip to Celta Vigo on August 17.
RB Salzburg, meanwhile, have already started their Austrian Bundesliga campaign and will see this as an opportunity to claim a big-name scalp.
Follow all of the action as it unfolds with our extensive updates below.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI (3-4-2-1): Courtois; Militao, Varane, Ramos; Carvajal, Casemiro, Kroos, Marcelo; Hazard, Isco; Benzema
SUBS: Odriozola, De la Fuente, Navas, Nacho, Lunin, Vinicius, Vazquez, Valverde, Jovic
RB SALZBURG TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI (4-4-2): Stankovic; Kristensen, Ramalho, Onguene, Ulmer; Minamino, Bernede, Samassekou, Szoboszlai; Koita, Haland
SUBS: Farkas, Van der Werff, Vallci, Hwang, Camara, Okugawa, Mensah, Carlos, Kohn, Junuzovic, Daka, Ashimeru, Diarra
KICKOFF: Militao is handed his Madrid debut in what appears to be a back three, while fellow Brazil international Casemiro is also back in club action for the first time this summer. Los Blancos have looked very shaky at the back during pre-season - will the switch in personnel make a difference?
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SHOT! Madrid have seen plenty of the ball in the early stages, as expected, and Casemiro has just fired away the first shot of the evening. The ball drifts a fair way wide of the target, with Stankovic happy to watch it on its way past his post.
Ulmer's cross from the left is flashed right through the Madrid six-yard box but nobody in a red top can get a touch to it. That was a bright moment for Salzburg, who should be a lot fitter than their opponents given that their competitive season is under way.
Seven minutes played at the Red Bull Arena and there has not been a great deal between the sides so far. It may only be a friendly but Madrid really cannot afford to lose again today, with questions already being asked of some of their players.
SHOT! Ramos and Koita collide, leading to a stoppage in play. Once the action gets back up and running it is Salzburg who are quickest out of the blocks as Minamino is played in and drags a shot wide of the target. That has to go down as half a chance.
Salzburg are playing the better football here. Some intricate play on the edge of the box leads to Haland dropping to the ground, seemingly under contact just inside the box, but the referee is having none of it.
SAVE! The home side's pressing is paying off as Madrid have been unable to really find any sort of rhythm. The ball does find its way to Benzema on the edge of the six-yard box, though, and if not for a brilliant Stankovic save it would be 1-0.
That really was a fine save from Stankovic to keep out Benzema from five yards out, though the Frenchman should have been burying his shot after being picked out by Hazard's cross. Madrid are now starting to take control of the contest.
Salzburg are focusing a lot more on defending now as Madrid continue to grow into the match. Marcelo, playing high up the pitch in this hybrid 3-4-3 formation, sends in another cross that is this time hooked clear.
GOAL! RED BULL SALZBURG 0-1 REAL MADRID (EDEN HAZARD)
Hazard is up and running for Madrid with a stunning strike from about 22 yards out. The Belgian was played in behind by Benzema and had half the pitch to run into. Rather than return the ball to Benzema, he opted to cut inside and curl a shot away from Stankovic. Superb effort!
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Salzburg have responded fairly well to falling behind. Haland is unable to keep his header on target, though, and it is a goal kick to Madrid. Hazard will be feeling very good about himself following that impressive solo strike.
SHOT! Hazard is fouled by Ramalho 25 yards from goal and Madrid have a free kick in shooting range. Casemiro wins the right to take it on, but he opts for precision over power and his pretty poor attempt is off target.
With 26 minutes gone in Austria, Zidane will feel that his side are good value for their lead. Benzema missed a good chance before Hazard's curler, which is the difference between the sides at this point. The home fans are generating a fine atmosphere here.
CHANCE! A good passing move culminates in Ulmer squaring the ball towards Minamino, who is unable to round off the move from close range. He gets his contact all wrong and the shot is off target - it really should be 1-1 at the Red Bull Arena.
That really was a shocking miss from Minamino from all of six yards out. Salzburg have looked a lot better since falling behind, whereas Madrid have stepped off a little. A free kick is crossed into the box but Courtois gathers.
Salzburg win the ball back high up the pitch - not for the first time today - but Koita's curler is blocked by Casemiro. Madrid counter and Benzema has the chance to shoot. The Frenchman decides to play a one-two and the attack breaks down.
Madrid win a corner, which Kroos aims towards the edge of the six-yard box. It is knocked down to Benzema but he cannot bring it under control to get a shot away from close range. Zidane's men are starting to knock on the door for a second goal.
Haland goes to ground in the box once again, but it is deemed that there was not enough contact made. Madrid are in control of possession, yet their opponents are enjoying plenty of promising moments when they attack.
CHANCE! Isco is unable to slot the ball through for Benzema as Madrid continue to probe away. A huge chance falls Hazard's way moments later, however, with the Belgian carrying the ball past Onguene as though he was not there, only to be denied by Stankovic from the one-on-one.
CHANCE! Hazard plays in Benzema on the overlap and the wing-back's cross is a good one. Benzema was waiting to meet it but Isco powered in to get to it first, though he could not keep his headed effort down. Madrid will surely score a second before half time.
It has been wave after wave of attack for Real Madrid over the last seven or eight minutes. Hazard is again involved, though this latest shot ends in the stands. The ex-Chelsea man should have doubled his tally from his earlier chance.
Carvajal is unable to beat his man when left one-on-one down the right. Madrid are swarming all over Salzburg and are looking good value for another goal. Time is against them, though, as half time is just a minute or so away.
HALF TIME: RED BULL SALZBURG 0-1 REAL MADRID
Hazard's impressive goal has given Real Madrid a 1-0 lead over Red Bull Salzburg at half time in this friendly match in Austria. After a fairly balanced opening 15 minutes or so, the visitors took control of the match and will feel they are good value for their slender advantage.
Stankovic produced an impressive point-blank stop to deny Benzema 13 minutes in, but the Frenchman played an important part in Hazard's opener six minutes later.
Hazard was played into space by his new teammate and carried the ball 50 yards, before cutting inside from the left and curling it away from Stankovic.
Salzburg initially responded well to the setback as Ulmer teed up Minamino for what should have been a simple finish from six yards out, but he failed to find the target when picked out unmarked.
The visitors then took control of the match and could have had a second before half time as Hazard was denied by Stankovic from a one-on-one position after carrying the ball past Onguene with ease, while Isco headed over from close range.
BENCH WATCH!
RED BULL SALZBURG SUBS: Farkas, Van der Werff, Vallci, Hwang, Camara, Okugawa, Mensah, Carlos, Kohn, Junuzovic, Daka, Ashimeru, Diarra
REAL MADRID SUBS: Odriozola, De la Fuente, Navas, Nacho, Lunin, Vinicius, Vazquez, Valverde, Jovic
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KICKOFF: We are back under way at the Red Bull Arena in Austria. Zidane has made a change at the interval, bringing on Nacho for Militao. Salzburg appear to have changed their entire starting lineup - not all that surprising as they have a big league game on the horizon.
In fact, Zidane made at least one other change as Casemiro has been replaced by Valverde. There is no Gareth Bale in the squad today, with the Welshman once again being overlooked for selection. What a bleak future he is facing in the Spanish capital.
In terms of Madrid's subs, taking off Casemiro and Militao makes sense - this is their first game back following their Copa America exploits. Los Blancos are knocking the ball around but they have not offered a great deal since the restart.
There is far less pressure on the ball compared to the first half as Madrid continue to knock the ball around. Zidane will likely make some more changes around the hour mark, so time is running out for a number of these Madrid players to leave their mark on the game.
SAVE! Diarra's right-footed shot from range gives Courtois something to deal with, but it is the simplest of saves down the middle. Salzburg are enjoying a good spell on the ball in front of their packed home crowd.
YELLOW CARD! This is a lot better from the home side. They are really getting at their opponents and Varane is caught on the ball by Hwang, who drives towards the box. Varane barges his opponent off the ball just outside the box to earn himself a yellow card.
SHOT! Junuzovic gets a powerful shot away in the box but it hits a Madrid player in front of goal, while Diarra is unable to find the target with his effort. Salzburg are starting to dominate the match, in complete contrast to the final 15 minutes of the first half.
The home side are putting their fresh legs to good use as they continue to harry the opposition. Zidane is perhaps thinking about making a change or two with two-thirds of the match now played. It has been an entertaining friendly thus far.
CLOSE! Daka comes close with his shot from range, which drifts just over the crossbar. Zidane, whose side are holding on to their slender lead, has brought on Jovic for goalscorer Hazard with 62 minutes played in Austria.
YELLOW CARD! Carvajal cynically barges into Mwepu to halt the substitute's run. Mwepu landed awkwardly and is in need of some treatment, while Carvajal is cautioned for the foul. Los Blancos need to grab a foothold on the match.
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Salzburg need to make this pressure count for something. They are probing away and Madrid are not looking all that comfortable at the back. Zidane still has the likes of Vinicius and Vazquez to come on from the bench.
SAVE! Jovic is dragged back when looking to start a counter and Madrid are awarded a free kick. That may well prove a turning point of sorts because the visitors are starting to look a little more composed all of a sudden. Benzema's low shot is saved.
The home fans have stepped things up over the last 10 minutes, urging their side on for a leveller. On the basis of the second half, they would deserve it. That said, Courtois has only had one save to make all evening - and even that was pretty tame.
Madrid have had 64% of the ball today but they have not had things all their own way. That can be expected in many ways as Salzburg are a few games into their competitive campaign and they made a whole host of changes at half time.
YELLOW CARD! Farkas fouls Kroos and becomes the first home player to enter the referee's book. Benzema's saved shot aside five minutes ago, Madrid have barely managed to create anything in the second half. Will we see Vinicius before full time?
SUBS! Both sides make changes for the final 15 minutes of the contest. Zidane has brought on Vazquez for Isco and Vinicius for Benzema. Will the extra firepower make any difference for the Spanish giants?
A good cross is played in from the right but a shooting opportunity does not present itself for the hosts, and Courtois was quickly off his line to collect the ball from the next attack/ Odriozola is on for Carvajal in the latest of Zidane's changes.
Vinicius has a shot blocked at the end of a promising move for Madrid. There are 10 minutes to go in Austria and this game appears to have at least one more goal in it. Ashimeru's chipped cross is headed clear inside the box.
SAVE! This is a superb save from substitute keeper Carlos! Jovic carried the ball into the shot and would have fancied his chances of finding the net, despite the angle being slightly against him, but Carlos got down low to keep out the shot.
YELLOW CARD! Nacho is cautioned for halting a counter-attack. Valverde was booked for a similar infringement about five minutes ago - maybe that is something Zidane has told his players to do. The visitors are certainly not afraid to do the dirty work.
The match is being broken up by a succession of fouls at both ends of the field. Salzburg have lost their way a little over the last five minutes, but they still have time to snatch an equaliser in the remaining seven minutes or so.
Salzburg win a free kick a fair way out and Junuzovic takes it on. It is not the worst effort you will see, but Courtois watched it all the way and made a routine save pretty much down the middle.
Three minutes have been added on at the end of the match at the Red Bull Arena. Vinicius has one thing in his mind when he collects the ball on the edge of the opposition area, but he cannot get away from his man and Salzburg clear the ball.
Madrid win a free kick high up the pitch to eat up more valuable seconds. The ball loops into the air but it does not drop for a visiting player to strike. There are 60 seconds to go but Salzburg appear to have run out of ideas to break Los Blancos down.
FULL TIME: RED BULL SALZBURG 0-1 REAL MADRID
Real Madrid beat Red Bull Salzburg 1-0 in their penultimate pre-season friendly thanks to
Eden Hazard's first goal for the club.
The Belgian forward cut inside from the left and curled the ball into the far corner with 19 minutes played.
Hazard missed a one-on-one later in the first half, but it did not matter in the end as Salzburg could not take the rare openings that fell their way.
That concludes
Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the Red Bull Arena. An on-the-whistle report can be found by
clicking here, and be sure to join us again in around four hours' time for coverage of Barcelona's friendly with Napoli in Florida. See you then!