Before Los Blancos can shift their focus back to finishing the job against Manchester City in the Champions League round of 16, there is domestic business to handle. We have to dispatch Elche this weekend to keep the pressure on in the title race.
The Bernabéu is still buzzing from Wednesday’s stunning 3–0 first-leg dismantling of City, fueled by that sensational Fede Valverde hat-trick. For the first time in a while, the team played with the true swagger required of the 15-time European champions.
Now, Álvaro Arbeloa’s men need to ride that momentum into La Liga. Trailing bitter rivals Barcelona by four points, dropping points is not an option. Even with a heavily depleted squad, Real Madrid must find a way to secure all three points and stay in the fight for the Spanish crown.
New Injuries Worsen Arbeloa’s Selection Crisis
Just when it seemed the injury list couldn’t get any longer, the squad has taken another hit. We are now without both our starting fullback Álvaro Carreras (calf) and backup left-back Ferland Mendy (hamstring sustained against City).
Fran García is the obvious choice to step in on the left flank, though Eduardo Camavinga remains a versatile option in what will undoubtedly be a makeshift backline. With the crucial trip to the Etihad looming, expect Arbeloa to heavily rotate, likely giving Antonio Rüdiger and Trent Alexander-Arnold a much-needed rest.
Current Injury & Suspension List:
- Out: Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Dani Ceballos, Álvaro Carreras, David Alaba.
- Suspended: Franco Mastantuono (Red card vs. Getafe).
Predicted Real Madrid Lineup vs. Elche (4-4-2)
With few attacking options left on the bench, Arbeloa will likely stick with Brahim Díaz partnering Vini Jr. up top. Here is how we expect the boys to line up:
- GK: Thibaut Courtois — Recently heralded by Arbeloa as the “best goalkeeper in Real Madrid history,” our Belgian wall slots in hoping to secure his first La Liga clean sheet since early February.
- RB: Dani Carvajal — Currently playing second fiddle to Alexander-Arnold, the veteran Spaniard returns to the XI to give his teammate a rest. This will be just his second start under Arbeloa, bringing essential leadership to a young defense.
- CB: Raúl Asencio — Asencio brings fresh legs to a heavily rotated backline. The young Spaniard injects the physicality needed to frustrate Elche’s attackers.
- CB: Dean Huijsen — It’s been a rollercoaster debut season for Huijsen, but his confidence will be sky-high after holding his own against City’s world-class forwards on Wednesday.
- LB: Fran García — After a solid second-half shift against City, García is rewarded with a rare start—his first in La Liga in 2026. He needs to make an impact quickly, as Carreras is nearing a return.
- RM: Federico Valverde — Our Uruguayan engine has unlocked a whole new level under Arbeloa. He enters Saturday’s clash in lethal form, boasting eight goal contributions in his last seven appearances.
- CM: Arda Güler — Expect Arbeloa to rely heavily on the Turkish sensation’s playmaking and expert set-piece delivery to break down what will likely be a stubborn Elche low block.
- CM: Eduardo Camavinga — Aurelien Tchouaméni desperately needs a breather. Camavinga steps in, eager to dominate the midfield and silence the ongoing transfer rumors linking him with a move away from the capital.
- LM: Thiago Pitarch — The Castilla product has been the breakout surprise of the season. His strong outing against City proved he belongs on the biggest stage.
- ST: Brahim Díaz — The Moroccan international keeps his spot alongside Vini after a dazzling Champions League performance, highlighted by that show-stopping assist for Valverde’s third goal.
- ST: Vinicius Junior — Vini will be hungry to erase the memory of his penalty blunder and end a rare three-game goal drought. Expect him to terrorize the Elche defense from the first whistle.