Real Madrid head into tonight’s La Liga clash with Mallorca at the Santiago Bernabeu aiming to stretch their perfect start to the season to three wins in a row.
The Madrid giants have recovered from their opening-day victory over Osasuna and followed up with a win at Real Oviedo. In the build-up to the home encounter with Jagoba Arrasate’s Mallorca, Xabi Alonso unveiled the starting XI with two changes from the Oviedo match.
Vinicius Jr returns to lead the attack, replacing Rodrygo as the frontline options alongside Kylian Mbappe and Franco Mastantuono, who both retain their spots in attack. In defense, Trent Alexander-Arnold comes in at right-back, taking the place of captain Dani Carvajal, who impressed last time out. The rest of the backline remains the same, with Alvaro Carreras at left-back, and Eder Militao and Dean Huijsen pairing in central defense in front of Thibaut Courtois.
The midfield trio remains Aurelien Tchouameni, Federico Valverde, and Arda Guler, forming Madrid’s engine room as they seek to control the middle of the park and feed the dynamic front three.
Key points to watch
– Vinicius Jr’s return could inject extra pace and creativity into Madrid’s attack, complementing Mbappe and Mastantuono.
– Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion at right-back may bring added width and attacking options, while Carvajal provides a different balance if called upon later.
– The central defense of Militao and Huijsen will be tasked with keeping Mallorca’s forward line at bay as Madrid push for a third straight win.
Summary: Real Madrid look to extend their winning run with a lineup that blends pace, creativity, and experience, as they host Mallorca hoping to seal three consecutive victories to start the campaign. A win would reinforce Madrid’s early momentum and set the tone for the coming fixtures.