Real Madrid have officially revealed their squad for Saturday evening’s La Liga clash against Valencia, and the headline news is a double midfield boost — Arda Güler and Aurélien Tchouaméni are both back in the fold after being rested for the midweek European trip.
What Happened
José Mourinho opted to leave both Güler and Tchouaméni behind in Madrid when Los Blancos made the journey to Greece to face AEK Athens in midweek — a decision that makes a lot of sense in the context of a congested fixture schedule. The trip to Athens served its purpose, with Real picking up a seventh consecutive victory, and now Mourinho has the luxury of welcoming those two key midfielders straight back into his plans for the Valencia fixture on Saturday evening.
Both players are expected to slot straight into the starting line-up. That’s a significant upgrade in midfield quality for a home league fixture where three points are very much the expectation, particularly given the form Real have been carrying into it.
The one notable absentee, however, is Vinícius Jr. The Brazilian forward misses out again, sitting out the final game of his domestic suspension. It’s a frustrating situation for Real Madrid fans, but at least the end of that ban is now firmly in sight — Vini will be available again from the next league fixture onwards.
What It Means for Real Madrid
Seven wins in a row is the kind of momentum that title-winning campaigns are built on, and Mourinho’s men look like a side that knows exactly what it’s doing right now. The smart rotation against AEK Athens — using the European fixture to give legs a rest without sacrificing the result — is a classic Mourinho move, and it’s paid off perfectly with Güler and Tchouaméni refreshed and ready to go for a tricky domestic test.
Tchouaméni’s importance to this Real Madrid side cannot be overstated. When he’s fit and in the XI, there’s a physicality and composure to the midfield that is very hard to replicate. His ability to break up play, recycle the ball, and cover the defensive line gives Mourinho the platform to let the more creative players around him express themselves.
Güler, meanwhile, has been one of the more exciting stories of the season. The young Turkish playmaker has shown real maturity in his performances when given the opportunity, and his combination play in tight spaces is exactly the kind of thing that can unlock a compact Valencia defensive block. Getting him back available and ready to start is a genuine boost to Real’s creative output.
As for the absence of Vinícius, Real have enough quality across the forward line to cope for one more game. With Güler back in the picture and other attacking options available to Mourinho, the coaching staff will be confident of getting the job done against Valencia without their Brazilian talisman — even if supporters will naturally be counting down the minutes until he’s back.
What’s Next
Saturday night’s match against Valencia at the Bernabéu represents a real opportunity to extend that winning run to eight games and keep the pressure on at the top of the La Liga table. Valencia have had their own inconsistencies this season, and Real — even without Vini — will be heavy favourites to take the three points.
The bigger picture for Real Madrid fans is an exciting one: a squad that is managing its resources well across competitions, key players returning from rest, and a momentum that feels genuinely difficult to stop right now. If Mourinho can keep the squad healthy and rotating effectively, the second half of the season could be very interesting indeed.
Stay locked to RMxtra for team news, match build-up, and all the live reaction from Saturday night’s fixture.
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For official club updates, visit Real Madrid’s official website.