Real Madrid began life under Carlo Ancelotti tonight with a pre-season opener against Bournemouth at the Goldsands Stadium.
Cristiano Ronaldo wasted little time making an impact on the South Coast, registering an early brace which included a trademark free-kick from distance.
Gonzalo Higuain, Sami Khedira, Casemiro and Angel di Maria all added their names to the scorehseet soon after, helping Madrid record a comfortable 6-0 win.
Look back at a landmark occasion for the Cherries with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute commentary below.
Evening football fans! Thanks for joining Sports Mole for live coverage of an unlikely pre-season friendly, with Bournemouth welcoming the mighty Real Madrid to the Goldsands Stadium.
Carlo Ancelotti will take charge of his first match as Madrid manager tonight on the sun-drenched South Coast. Bournemouth have pulled off quite a coup in setting up this showpiece friendly, to mark the opening of a new stand.
The Cherries have embraced the extensive national coverage hosting Madrid brings, but did raise some eyebrows by charging £62 for a match ticket. Nevertheless tonight's game is a sell-out, with fans of the Championship side clamouring to catch a glimpse of Ronaldo and co.
Madrid have brought a strong 23-man squad to Dorset, including Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Pepe. New signing Isco is also in the travelling party, and will get his first taste of life as a Madrid man this evening.
BREAKING TEAM NEWS! The starting XI's have just been released at Dean Court, and should make for frightening reading in Eddie Howe's office. Ronaldo, Benzema, Ozil all start in a close to full-strength Madrid side. A complete list of both lineups will follow in just a few moments.
BOURNEMOUTH: Flahavan, Francis, Cook, Elphick, Daniels, Coulibaly, Arter, MacDonald, Fraser, Pitman, Grabban
Ancelotti has certainly named a strong side for his opening match as manager, starting with Ronaldo, Ozil and Isco in attacking roles behind lone striker Benzema. Returning full-back Dani Carvajal gets a start in defence, with Pepe also playing from the outset.
English football fans will be very familiar with one starter in Madrid's midfield, with Croatian playmaker Luka Modric included alongside Sami Khedira. Modric struggled to nail down a regular first-team place in his maiden season at the Bernabeu, but now has a chance to prove his worth to a new coach in Ancelotti this summer.
Cherries boss Howe has given summer signing Mohamed Coulibaly a start tonight, with the Senegal-born forward likely to play in a wide left role. The 24-year-old impressed on trial during the club's tour of Switzerland, earning a two-year contract in the process.
On the transfer front Madrid's decision to include Gonzalo Higuain on the bench is a clear indication that they are prepared to keep the striker. The Argentine forward has been linked with both Arsenal and Napoli during the close season, but for now remains a Madrid player.
Madrid have given this occasion added gloss with that all-star starting XI, giving a sold-out crowd the chance to say 'I was there' when Ronaldo graced Dean Court. The challenge now for Bournemouth is to match their experienced opponents, but Howe's side should be fit and raring to go.
This evening's clash is the first chance Madrid fans will get to look at life under Ancelotti. The Italian with the fearsome eyebrow has plenty of experience across Europe, but will be under pressure from the outset to deliver trophies in the Spanish capital.
PREDICTION! As excitement in Dorset reaches fever pitch there is just time for to rather predictably say that Madrid will record a victory in their first friendly of the summer. Bournemouth's young side should be fitter and make a contest of the landmark match, but ultimately Benzema and Ronaldo will prove too strong. I'll go for 3-1 to Real!
Here go then, just about ready to get underway on a gorgeous evening at the Goldsands Stadium. This really is an occasion to savour for Cherries fans, quite the antidote to normal pre-season fare.
Bournemouth get us underway after a slight delay to proceedings, shooting from left to right as Lewis Grabban and Brett Pitman take the kickoff.
A huge ironic cheer from the Bournemouth faithful inside a minute as Marcelo fails to find Ronaldo out wide, sending a pass short and allowing Fraser to intercept.
Pitman nearly finds Grabban unmarked inside the penalty area, with a curling cross inside the danger zone just going beyond his strike partner's late run. Madrid then get the chance to recoup as Grabban's attempts to win a corner kick are stopped by Nacho.
Ronaldo reminds everyone of his talents with an audacious control and flick wide of the target, but the forward is penalised for bringing down the long ball forward with his hand. Madrid have now settled in possession, and win a free kick as Modric intercepts just inside the final third.
SHOT! From around 30 yards Ronaldo aims a trademark free-towards goal, arrowing a powerful effort just over the crossbar after making full contact with a central drive. Bournemouth are quick to break at the other end, winning a corner kick as Pitman's shot is scrambled behind. Positive stuff from both sides early on.
Harry Arter brings down Ronaldo with a late lunge, which probably would have earned the midfielder a yellow card in a competitive match. Madrid are quick to build an attack when play resumes, with a backheel towards goal from Ronaldo blocked quickly by a smart stop from Darryl Flahavan.
Tommy Elphick does just enough to deny Benzema a free shot at the back post, blocking the Frenchman with a superb last-ditch tackle. Ronaldo was once again at the heart of that move, finding his strike partner with a deft pass inside the penalty area.
A slight lull in play allows Bournemouth to build from the back through Fraser, who darts down the wing in a promising burst. The ball is eventually worked through to Pitman, who floats a hopeful chip well past the far post after attempting to catch Lopez off his line.
Isco clips a lovely ball out wide to find Carvajal, but his cross is cleared behind by a well-timed block from Charlie Daniels. From the following corner kick Fraser goes down heavily after being caught late by Modric, with the match stopped so he can receive medical attention.
Madrid continue to probe and press when play resumes, with Benzema showing quick feet to find space before flashing just wide from 20 yards. Bournemouth are just starting to feel the pace as the Cherries concede another free kick, around 30 yards from goal.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-1 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
After an early sighter Ronaldo finds his range, scoring a wonderful free kick to break the deadlock at Dean Court. The forward hit a straight, dipping drive up and over the wall with precision, giving Flahavan no chance as the ball settled in the bottom corner.
Bournemouth are camped inside their own half as Madrid take complete control of the match. Isco is starting to enjoy his first match in Real colours, dictating play in a central position. Coentrao gets involved with a burst from full-back, just failing to meet a diagonal pass from Modric.
SUBSTITUTION: Cherries forward Pitman needs treatment after pulling up with what looks to be a muscle strain. Howe decides to take no chances with a Championship opener 13 days away, swapping the striker for summer signing Elliot Ward.
Ward's inclusion has seen Bournemouth switch to a three-man defence, packing the midfield. The move sees Madrid finally lose their stranglehold on possession, but Carvajal soon wins the ball back and breaks forward down the right wing.
Elphick shows supreme confidence to dummy and turn inside his own penalty area, after stopping Ozil's pass across goal from reaching Benzema at the far post. Khederia quickly establishes another attack by meeting a long ball in midfield, with Bournemouth forced to chase and harry.
Flahavan comes off his line quickly to stop Benzema meeting a clever pass inside from Ozil, but the offside flag is soon raised to end Madrid's attack. The German playmaker is starting to find his rhythm now at the Goldsands, starving Bournemouth of possession.
MacDonald puts in a superb tackle to rob Ronaldo of possession just outside the penalty area, allowing Bournemouth to break quickly. Coulibaly is given a chance to shoot thanks to a quick pass from Arter, but flashes wide with a low strike.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-2 Real Madrid (Ronaldo)
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-3 Real Madrid (Khedira)
A horrible mistake from Elphick has just gifted Ronaldo his second goal just before the break. The defender attempted to control Carvajal's long pass rather than clear first time, but his miscue only sent the ball through to Ronaldo. He made no mistake with a precise finish, doubling Madrid's advantage in the process.
Within a minute of Ronaldo's strike Madrid edge further ahead through Khedira. The midfielder stabbed home a fierce, low drive after Bournemouth failed to clear a corner kick, with MacDonald's attempts to clear on the line not strong enough. Howe's men need half-time quickly to regroup.
HALF-TIME Bournemouth 0-3 Real Madrid
Referee Lee Probert calls time on an entertaining first half, much to Bournemouth's relief. A Madrid side led by Ronaldo has looked very sharp in their opening pre-season friendly, scoring three times without reply before the break.
Isco has also looked very comfortable in possession this evening, his first Madrid appearance after making a summer switch from Malaga. With Ozil, Isco and Modric all showing assured touches in possession Bournemouth have been forced to chase shadows for most of the first period.
Ronaldo in particular looks well rested and primed to star again at the Bernabeu this season. The 28-year-old's free kick to open the scoring was a trademark finish, hit with power and precision.
The Cherries actually started brightly in the early stages, but began to wilt after conceding the opening goal. Worryingly for the home side forward Brett Pitman picked up an injury problem in the first half, and was quickly withdrawn as a precaution.
Bournemouth need to dig deep and work hard to avoid a drubbing now in front of a packed Dean Court. Elphick then goes some way to making amends for his early error by intercepting a ball into the penalty area, which looked destined to find one of two unmarked white shirts in the penalty area.
Expect wholesale changes when play resumes in just a moment, with Higuain warming up despite rumours of a bid worth £30m from Napoli for his services.
SUBSTITUTIONS! After being put through his paces during the break by Zinedine Zidane the Argentine forward will come on in the second half, leading a completely changed Madrid XI. Kaka and Angel di Maria will also feature for the visitors, with a few youngsters also given the chance to impress Ancelotti.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-4 Real Madrid (Higuain)
Less than two minutes after coming on Higuain smashes home a goal in ruthless fashion. The forward quickly read a deflected pass from Morata, racing through to lash past Flahavan from close range.
Young forward Morata blazes over from 25 yards after initially controlling a pass inside from Casemiro. The youngster made a huge impact for Spain at last month's European Under-21 Championship, and will be looking to press home claims for a squad place under Ancelotti this season.
SAVE! Flahavan is at full stretch to stop Higuain from adding to Madrid's advantage. The forward met a through ball from Kaka, but was just taken wide and had his powerful effort tipped over from a tight angle.
OFF THE BAR! Kaka sends a thunderous drive off the crossbar from 20 yards. The Brazilian hit a fierce shot with virtually no backlift and had Flahavan clearly beaten, but the bar came to Bournemouth's rescue on that occasion.
Morata proves wasteful inside the penalty area as Bournemouth continue to defend from deep. The forward has three players to choose from in the box but elected to cut inside, allowing a covering defender to scramble clear.
SUBSTITUTION: Bournemouth make a change to provide fresh legs in midfield, swapping Ward for experienced anchor Richard Hughes.
Illaramedi looks a wonderful prospect in central midfield, linking play with composure almost every time he's been involved since the break. A precise pass forward from the youngster finds Di Mario on this occasion, but his flick in search of Higuain is read and cut out by the onrushing Flahavan.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Bournemouth have opted to make another pair of changes, with veteran defender Ian Harte among those introduced. Jordan Chiedozie is also on, with Lewis Grabban and Mohamed Coulibaly withdrawn.
Daniels shows desire and strength to win a corner kick with the aid of a Di Maria deflection, but the following cross is a huge disappointment for the home fans.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-5 Real Madrid (Di Maria)
Di Maria leaves his mark on the South Coast with a brilliant goal. The winger drove from deep, evading two challenges before cutting inside to find the bottom corner from just outside the penalty area. Pace and guile in equal measure there from the Argentine, who gave Flahavan no chance with that low drive.
Another forward burst from Di Maria has the playmaker bearing down on goal, but this time Flahavan is equal to a central strike from 12 yards.
SUBSTITUTION: Another pair of changes from the home side, with Howe deciding to give 16-year-old Sam Matthews a chance to strut his stuff against the nine-time European champions. Miles Addison is also on for the Cherries, with Elphick getting a well-earned rest.
GOAL! Bournemouth 0-6 Real Madrid (Casemiro)
SUBSTITUTIONS: Bournemouth make a final raft of changes in the final few minutes, with Wes Thomas, Josh Wakefield and Shwan Jalal among five new faces to get a run out against the Spanish giants.
Slow, steady build-up play sees Madrid pick their passes and score a sixth goal. Di Maria and Kaka were both involved but it was Higuain who dropped deeper to find the telling pass, with Casemiro reading his intentions inside the penalty area. The Brazilian had time to pick his spot from close range, forcing a strong shot past Flahavan from a tight angle.
Addison's acrobatic clearance just denies Morata a tap-in at the far post, after a whipped cross from Cheryshev reached the penalty area with pace. That should just about do it at the Goldsands.
Bournemouth will now move on to prepare for their first Championship campaign under Howe, but Cherries fans will remember that Ronaldo free-kick which opened the scoring for some time to come.
FULL-TIME Bournemouth 0-6 Real Madrid
Well in the end a Madrid side led by Ronaldo started life under Ancelo tti in style, recording a 6-0 win in their first pre-season friendly of the summer. Ronaldo, Higuain and Di Maria were all on target for the visitors, who had far too much quality for a spirited Bournemouth side.
That just about brings to an end our coverage of a slightly surreal pre-season friendly on the South Coast. Thanks for joining Sports Mole and enjoy what's left of your weekend. Good evening!
Written by
Liam Power
Liam Power
