Real Madrid are back in action at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday night, desperate to get their La Liga campaign firing again as they welcome Villarreal. And ahead of the fixture, we now have a clearer picture of how José Mourinho is likely to set his side up — with some encouraging injury news, but also a handful of notable absentees still keeping the medical room busy.
What Happened
The biggest selection storyline heading into this one is Dean Huijsen’s absence. The young centre-back is suspended after picking up a red card in the Madrid derby against Atlético, which means Antonio Rüdiger slots straight back into the starting eleven. The experienced German international brings a wealth of big-game composure to the backline, and Mourinho will be glad to have him available for a fixture where three points feel non-negotiable.
On the brighter side of the team news bulletin, both Ibrahima Konaté and Kylian Mbappé — who had been carrying knee complaints picked up during the international break — have been declared fit and are included in the matchday squad. That’s a significant relief. Losing either of them, let alone both, would have made an already stretched situation considerably worse.
Unfortunately, the injury list remains long elsewhere. Eder Militão (muscle), Raúl Asencio (leg), Ferland Mendy (hip), and Rodrygo (knee) are all still sidelined. Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Mourinho was characteristically candid about the situation: “Valverde is a doubt; Militão is not a doubt because he won’t be available. Seeing him train and how he’s doing makes me happy. We’ve never trained as five; we were always 20 with academy players. I joke every day with Militão and the therapists, telling him he’s going to play.”
The Portuguese manager continued: “I knew he was good, but he’s even better. But he won’t be available tomorrow, nor in Rome, nor against Sevilla. He still needs a couple of weeks. Mendy is joining us on the field for the first time today, and Rodrygo is a bit further off. The issue with Valverde has persisted until today. Today, we’ll decide what tomorrow will look like.”
With Valverde’s involvement uncertain, the predicted lineup takes on a particular shape. Mourinho is expected to deploy a 4-2-3-1, with Thibaut Courtois in goal behind a back four of Denzel Dumfries, Konaté, Rüdiger, and Álvaro Carreras. Aurelien Tchouaméni and Bernardo Silva form the double pivot, with Jude Bellingham operating in the number ten role just ahead of them. Out wide, Vinicius Júnior and Arda Güler provide the width, and Mbappé leads the line as the central striker.
Predicted XI: Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Rüdiger, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Bernardo; Güler, Bellingham, Vinicius Jr; Mbappé
What It Means for Real Madrid
The sheer volume of injuries has been a recurring theme for Madrid this season, and it’s been a genuine obstacle to consistency. A squad that, on paper, looks loaded with quality has repeatedly been asked to function without key components — and that has shown in the results. Mourinho’s ability to adapt his system and rotate intelligently will be just as important as his tactical setup on any given matchday.
That said, the lineup available for Saturday is still, by any objective measure, elite. Mbappé returning fit and starting is huge — the Frenchman’s pace and movement in behind is one of the most dangerous weapons in European football, and Villarreal’s defence will have their hands full trying to contain him alongside a rejuvenated Vinicius on the opposite flank. Bellingham pulling the strings in the ten role adds a further layer of creativity and pressing intensity that can unlock compact defensive blocks.
Rüdiger’s return to the starting lineup is also worth highlighting beyond just the suspension cover angle. The German brings a mentality that fits perfectly into Mourinho’s demanding setup — aggressive, vocal, and utterly committed. With a relatively inexperienced backline otherwise, his leadership will be crucial.
What’s Next
Saturday’s home fixture against Villarreal is the kind of game Real Madrid simply must win if they’re serious about mounting a title challenge. Three points at the Bernabéu would do wonders for confidence and momentum, particularly with a trip to Rome — mentioned by Mourinho in his press conference — looming on the horizon. European commitments add another layer of pressure to an already congested schedule, making squad depth a genuine concern given the current injury situation.
For Madridistas, the hope is straightforward: a convincing home win, a clean bill of health for the returners, and some good news on the injured quartet before the run of fixtures gets any tougher. With this lineup, there’s plenty of quality on show — now it’s about delivering on the pitch.
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For official club updates, visit Real Madrid’s official website.
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