The wait is officially over. José Mourinho has named his 21-man travelling squad as Real Madrid kick off their 2026–27 La Liga campaign away against RCD Espanyol at the RCDE Stadium on Saturday night.
All six summer additions—Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella, Carlos Espí, Yan Diomandé, and Bernardo Silva—have been included and are in line to make their competitive debuts for Los Blancos.
Official 21-Man Squad List
- Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Jorge Cestero
- Defenders: Dean Huijsen, Antonio Rüdiger, Ibrahima Konaté, Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Álvaro Carreras
- Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, Alexis Ciria
- Forwards: Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Brahim Díaz, Yan Diomandé, Carlos Espí, Mario Rivas
Key Availability & Missing Stars
While Mourinho has plenty of firepower up front, six first-team players miss the trip to Catalonia due to various recovery timelines:
- Aurélien Tchouaméni: Left out as a precaution following his recent return to group sessions after a World Cup muscle issue.
- Endrick: Unavailable due to lingering muscular discomfort.
- Long-Term Absentees: Éder Militão (hamstring rehab), Rodrygo Goes (ACL/meniscus recovery), Ferland Mendy (tendon repair), and Raúl Asencio remain sidelined.
Academy standouts Mario Rivas, Alexis Ciria, and goalkeeper Jorge Cestero complete the roster following impressive pre-season displays under the manager’s watchful eye.
Match Details
- Fixture: RCD Espanyol vs. Real Madrid (La Liga MD1)
- Date & Time: Saturday, August 22, 2026 • 8:30 PM WAT (7:30 PM GMT / 9:30 PM CEST)
- Venue: RCDE Stadium, Cornellà-El Prat
The RMxtra Verdict
Starting the new era with a balanced squad is crucial for Mourinho. Having Bernardo Silva and Cucurella available gives Madrid immediate structural poise away from home, and despite missing Tchouaméni in the deep pivot, the defensive depth is vastly superior to last season. A statement victory in Barcelona is the only objective.