One Change, Big Moment: Real Madrid Ready to Stomp Valencia at the Bernabéu

Lineup shake-up as Real Madrid host Valencia

Real Madrid are set to welcome Valencia to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday evening, in La Liga matchday 11.

Head coach Xabi Alonso indicated in the pre‑match press conference that his focus is entirely on Valencia, and that the team will field their strongest lineup without rotation.

The question of Vinícius Júnior's disciplinary status is settled: he will not face any internal punishment after the Clasico, and he showed notable honesty during a team meeting with his teammates.

Lineup changes and squad depth

The starting XI is expected to feature a single change compared to the Clasico, with Argentine-born Franco Mastantuno entering on the right flank in place of Eduardo Camavinga.

Federico Valverde will continue at right-back to cover for Dani Carvajal, while the absence of Trent Alexander‑Arnold keeps him out for over a month and a half.

In central defence, Real Madrid reportedly have two options alongside Militao: Eder Militao and Din Hoisen, with Alvaro Carrera occupying the left side as usual.

Midfield will lean on a potent trio—Chouaméni, Jude Bellingham, and Arda Güler—behind a forward line led by Kylian Mbappé and supported by Vinícius Júnior and Mastantuno.

According to AS, the anticipated Real Madrid XI against Valencia is Courtois, Valverde, Militao, Hoisen, Carerras, Tchouaméni, Güler, Mastantuno, Bellingham, Vinícius, Mbappé.

The goalkeeper position is unsettled by the suspension of Andriy Lunin following the Clasico red card, so Alonso called up the young duo Fran González and Sergio Mesti to bolster the goalkeeping department.

Alonso on Vinícius

Alonso spoke at yesterday's press conference, noting that Vinícius was exemplary in the meeting and that there is no cause for punishment; he emphasized that what matters is what was said and done, not the headlines.

He added that the team trained well and remained focused ahead of the Valencia clash, underscoring unity and resolve.

Vinícius contract and focus

The coach denied that Vinícius Júnior's contract renewal would derail the squad's preparation, stating the Brazilian appears focused and in good form after a fine display against Barcelona.

Alonso stressed that the emphasis remains on performance and staying together as a group, not on individual contract rumors, as Real Madrid aim to keep momentum in the league.

La Liga focus

Beyond Valencia, Alonso said he is not thinking about Liverpool in the Champions League upcoming in the fourth round, with attention currently on Valencia and then Rio Vallecano in La Liga.

He recalled Valencia's upset win at the Bernabéu last season and warned his team not to lose focus after a big early-season result, insisting that the immediate target is the next league match.

Clásico reflections

Commenting on the Clasico, Alonso said he wanted to win to boost confidence but that the key is to forget the result and prepare for the upcoming fixtures; he praised how many of Madrid's plans worked well against Barcelona and stressed the need to maintain intensity when in control of a game.

Mbappé workload and Endrick

When asked about Mbappé's goal tally, Alonso replied that Mbappé has been scoring and will continue to do so, underscoring the importance of team work and managing minutes for all players.

He explained that player rotation is sometimes necessary to manage load, and that decisions about Endrick remain tied to conditions and readiness rather than hype.

Injuries and absences

Regarding Endrick’s playing time, Alonso noted that while the youngster trains very well, circumstances have not aligned for him to feature yet. He also lamented Dani Carvajal's knee injury and confirmed the defender will be out for several weeks, with the squad coping in his absence.

In short, the side will lean on experience and depth while preserving intensity and focus for the Valencia test.

Punchline time: if consistency were a player, Madrid would be on the payroll. Punchline 2: the only thing more organized than Alonso’s press conferences might be Madrid’s calendar this season.”