Some 78 days have been and gone since José Mourinho bowed out of the Bernabéu with his tail between his legs, although it seems like only yesterday. Tonight Carlo Ancelotti's era in the hotseat gets underway in earnest.
Ancelotti's housewarming party comes against Betis, a team used to punching well above its weight. 'Los Blancos' enter the game riding a wave of optimism after an excellent preseason in terms of results – six victories and one draw – although the Italian may take a while to deliver the "spectacular football" he promised.
Less counterattacking and more tiki-taka. The idea – playing a possession-based style, with more patient build-up – is a good one, but there could still be some teething problems. So far, the magic has really happened when Isco and Özil have linked up, but they have to work on doing so nearer the danger zone more regularly.
The good news? Marcelo is his old self again. The bad? Benzema is still his old self; capable of scoring the goal of the century one moment and being a complete passenger the next. Fortunately, Cristiano Ronaldo remains as lethal as ever, whether out on the left, in the hole or leading the line himself.
Ancelotti will get the ball rolling using similar raw materials to Mou – of the new boys, only Isco and Carvajal will start – but aiming to cook up something very different. The players have been allowed to spend the night at home and will instead assemble at midday at Valdebebas, where they will eat together, unwind in the brand-new residence and then head out to the Bernabéu after Carletto's pre-match pep talk. Two of the 20-man squad will miss out: Mejías will be one, while Morata is the other favourite, although Kaká and Jesé are also in the running.
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