Lunin Comes In: Madrid Face Olympiakos in Athens without Courtois, Lines Up for a Champions League Test

Lineup and key updates

The Spanish coach Xabi Alonso has named his Madrid starting XI for the trip to Olympiakos on the fifth matchday of the Champions League. Courtois misses the game after leaving the club’s training complex ahead of the final session. He is sidelined by a severe stomach and intestinal inflammation, ruling him out of the European fixture. Andriy Lunin is set to start in goal, with a backline featuring Fran Garcia, Álvaro Carreir a s, Raúl Ascensio, and Trent Alexander‑Arnold. In midfield: Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Fede Valverde. In attack: Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and Brahim Díaz.

Ahead of the match, Madrid’s focus remains on a balance between defensive solidity and attacking threat, especially with the continued need to adapt without their first-choice stopper. The lineup also reflects a willingness to stretch the field and utilize wing play as Olympiakos press high and probe for gaps.

A look at the match by AS suggests the following XI: Andriy Lunin in goal; a back four of Fran Garcia, Álvaro Carriero s, Raúl Ascensio, and Trent Alexander-Arnold; midfield three of Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Fede Valverde; and a forwards trio of Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, and Brahim Díaz.

Goalkeeping and defensive organization will be pivotal, as Madrid aim to control possession, press with purpose, and avoid inviting pressure by over-committing in dangerous zones.

Guarding the nets: Andriy Lunin. Defenders: Fran Garcia, Álvaro Carreira s, Raúl Ascensio, Trent Alexander‑Arnold. Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Aurélien Tchouaméni, Fede Valverde. Forwards: Vinícius Júnior, Kylian Mbappé, Brahim Díaz.

A high-stakes test

Madrid enter a match that could shape European outcomes as they navigate a period of sensitive form: three games without a win in all competitions prior to this fixture. They had opened November with a 4‑0 league victory over Valencia, but followed with a defeat at Anfield to Liverpool, a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano, and a 2‑2 stalemate against Elche after the international break.

Historical notes in Athens

Trends in Athens have rarely favored Real Madrid. The club has yet to record a win in the Greek capital after seven official visits to Panathinaikos, AEK, and Olympiakos, producing five draws and two losses. In encounters specifically with Olympiakos in Athens, Madrid’s record stands at three draws and one defeat in four visits, with the last meeting a goalless draw in the 2007‑08 group stage.

In the Champions League table, Real Madrid sit ninth with nine points, while Olympiakos occupy a much more modest second-to-last position with two points. In La Liga, Madrid hold 32 points, just one clear of Barcelona at the top of the table.

Xabi Alonso is tasked with calibrating the balance between attack and defense, particularly as Olympiakos seek to exploit vulnerabilities on Madrid’s rearguard. The Athens match is framed as a genuine barometer of the squad’s rhythm and tactical cohesion under pressure.

Alonso’s comments and tactical reshuffles

Following a 2-2 draw with Elche, Alonso remarked that a sequence of solid results had been followed by a period where the team did not hit the expected marks. “We know what we aim for and we must push forward without hesitation. We’re not satisfied; this club demands victories, but the path remains long,” he stated. He also addressed the broader criticism: “The team hasn’t collapsed. We keep competing, and every match unfolds in its own context. Yes, results matter, but the spirit shown by the players is positive. In Real Madrid we live with pressure and criticism and we know how to respond.”

Alonso emphasized the importance of unity, saying, “Communication improves daily. We have spent more time together and our understanding has grown. We approach everything as one unit, celebrating wins and processing defeats together. We must turn this feeling into momentum before facing Olympiakos.”

Alternative selections and rotation

When asked about deployment of Fran Garcia in a less conventional role on the left, Alonso explained, “That position isn’t new for him. We wanted width on the flanks and a different shape to the play. The moment we drew level on the scoreboard, we conceded a goal that changed the tempo, even though the moment favored a comeback.”

Regarding Vinícius Jr. again starting on the bench, Alonso commented, “I don’t worry. I’ve spoken with Vinícius; he knows his role well. We’ve used this approach in other games. Every player wants the same objective: to restore the positive rhythm.”

Alonso also highlighted concerns that followed the 1‑1 draw with Elche: “We lacked the continuity to sustain the pressure. In the first half the team prepared transitions well. The players didn’t give up, but we needed more drive at key moments.”

Punchlines to close

Punchline 1: Alonso’s plan is so tight you could thread a needle with it—on a windy Athens night, no less. Punchline 2: If the ball had a passport, it would be in Athens tonight, because Madrid’s passes keep crossing borders and somehow still end up with the other team’s cheeks reddened by the shot of confidence.