Real Madrid gear up for their next La Liga outing at the Santiago Bernabéu this Saturday afternoon against relegation-threatened Levante, aiming to spark a turnaround after consecutive losses crammed into just four days.
Having kicked off the year with a commanding 5-1 thrashing of Real Betis on January 4, the Madrid giants endured quick successive blows: a 3-2 loss to Barcelona in the Super Cup decider followed by another 3-2 reverse to lower-tier Albacete in the Copa del Rey across a mere 96 hours later.
Hope comes from good home form. They boast a strong record of eight triumphs and one setback in nine league games this campaign, boosting their morale for the upcoming clash. Even amid the recent turmoil, Los Blancos hold second spot in La Liga on 45 points after 19 outings.
Real Madrid team news
The squad grapples with a raft of absences for the fixture. Kylian Mbappé, making headway from an ongoing left knee sprain, stands confirmed sidelined despite reduced discomfort, as the team deems the star striker not yet primed for intense action and opts against chancing it.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (left thigh), Éder Militão (hamstring), Brahim Díaz (AFCON duty), and Ferland Mendy (hamstring) stay out, while Antonio Rüdiger awaits a final check on his knee issue.
That said, vital figures like Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois, Álvaro Carreras, and Aurélien Tchouaméni—spared in the Copa del Rey stumble against Albacete—should slot back into the XI.
Rodrygo remains sidelined, nursing recovery from recent workloads, as affirmed by Arbeloa. Dani Carvajal might earn a start at right-back after his midweek substitute outing, the veteran paving the way for Federico Valverde to reclaim his preferred midfield berth.
Real Madrid predicted lineup
Possible Real Madrid starting XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Guler, Garcia, Vinicius
When will the match kick off?
The match will kick off at 1pm BST on Saturday, 17th January.
How to watch Real Madrid vs Levante?
UK supporters can tune in live on La Liga TV.
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