Real Madrid will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways in La Liga when they take on Athletic Club away at San Mames on Wednesday.
The Merengues have gone three league games without a win, drawing each of them, which has allowed Barcelona to go past them in the table.
✅ The Selected Players
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Fran González.
Defenders: Éder Militão, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raúl Asencio, Álvaro Carreras, Fran García, Antonio Rüdiger.
Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Arda Güler, Dani Ceballos.
Forwards: Vinícius Júnior, Endrick, Kylian Mbappé, Rodrygo, Gonzalo García, Brahim Díaz, Franco Mastantuono.
Ahead of the trip to the Basque country, Xabi Alonso has now announced the squad list of players who will be available for selection tomorrow against Ernesto Valverde’s men.
Real Madrid have welcomed Raul Asencio back into the squad after missing the weekend game against Girona due to gastroenteritis.
However, Ferland Mendy is ruled out again, just weeks after recovering from a previous injury, with the French left-back unlikely to play again until the new year.
Dean Huijsen has not recovered from his discomfort and remains unavailable, along with David Alaba and Dani Carvajal as well.
It will be interesting to see how Alonso plans to set up his midfield and whether he finds a way to fit Arda Guler and Jude Bellingham in the team without affecting the balance.
🔎 Context & Team News
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The match comes as Real Madrid seek to end a three-game winless streak in La Liga (all draws), and halt the momentum of rivals who have overtaken them at the top of the table.
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Defensive absences remain a problem — experienced names such as Ferland Mendy, David Alaba, and Dani Carvajal are unavailable.
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On a positive note, centre-back Raúl Asencio returns to the squad after recovering from illness.
Youngsters Gonzalo Garcia, Franco Mastantuono, and Endrick will be hoping to get some minutes off the bench, especially with the attacking unit not firing on all cylinders.
⚔️ Likely Line-up & Tactical Outlook
According to analysts and predictions:
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The defensive line is expected to feature Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, with Éder Militão and Antonio Rüdiger as centre-backs. Álvaro Carreras will likely start at left-back.
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In midfield, the probable trio includes Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde — offering balance and solidity.
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Up front, Jude Bellingham is projected to operate in a more advanced role (behind the strikers), while Kylian Mbappé partners with Vinícius Jr. in attack — a duo with pace, creativity and goal threat.
Should this plan materialize, Real Madrid will field a blend of defensive stability, midfield balance, and attacking flair — a response to their recent run of draws and mounting pressure in the title race.
