Alonso Drops Bombshell: Vinicius Junior's Fate Revealed in Real Madrid's Valencia Clash Lineup
Real Madrid look to extend their winning streak to six consecutive victories when they welcome struggling Valencia on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Xabi Alonso's squad are soaring after an impressive display in El Clásico that saw them demolish arch-rivals Barcelona convincingly to establish a five-point advantage at the top of the table. A triumph against Valencia on Saturday would give them a provisional eight-point cushion, putting additional pressure on their pursuers.
Valencia represent a vulnerable opponent ripe for exploitation. Without a victory in their previous five league fixtures, Carlos Corberán's team have dropped into the relegation zone.
Nevertheless, there are several issues Alonso needs to resolve. A knee problem will keep Dani Carvajal out for an extended period. Trent Alexander-Arnold has resumed training, though it seems unlikely he'll start after his prolonged absence.
Vinicius Junior showed frustration after being substituted in El Clásico and while the situation appears resolved, he might be rested for the evening. The Brazilian's potential absence may not stem directly from his recent behavior, but could be part of Alonso's rotation strategy with a Champions League fixture against Liverpool at Anfield scheduled three days later.
Here's how Los Blancos might line up against Valencia to kick off November.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Valencia (4-2-3-1)
GK: Thibaut Courtois—The Belgian goalkeeper will be eager to secure his team's first clean sheet against Valencia in five encounters.
RB: Federico Valverde—Real Madrid's adaptable asset will utilize his versatility once more by covering the right wing. Alexander-Arnold is likely to make his injury comeback with a second-half appearance.
CB: Raúl Asencio—Éder Militão has featured in every minute of Los Blancos' previous five matches. The Brazilian could benefit from some rest ahead of the Anfield trip with Asencio stepping into the starting eleven.
CB: Dean Huijsen—The young Spanish defender was outstanding in his maiden El Clásico and aims to continue what has been an impressive debut campaign in Real Madrid's jersey.
LB: Álvaro Carreras—After a disappointing display in the Madrid derby earlier this season, Carreras demonstrated his resilience and effectively neutralized Lamine Yamal in El Clásico.
CM: Aurélien Thouameni—The French midfielder has quietly enjoyed an excellent season start, regaining his form after a challenging 2024–25 campaign.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga—Camavinga's return proved crucial in El Clásico. While injuries have slowed his development lately, the former Rennes academy player's talent remains unquestionable.
RW: Franco Mastantuono—The Argentine youngster is still adapting to Spanish football and has taken on a more limited role in recent matches. He'll earn the opportunity to start against a vulnerable opponent.
AM: Jude Bellingham—The English midfielder has delivered decisive performances in Los Blancos' last two victories and has returned to peak form following his shoulder injury recovery. With Bellingham at his finest, Alonso's team can compete for all trophies.
LW: Rodrygo—Rodrygo will earn his third league start of the campaign, replacing his attention-grabbing compatriot. It has been challenging for Rodrygo to excel under Alonso, making it essential he capitalizes on every chance presented.
ST: Kylian Mbappé—Mbappé is enjoying a phenomenal season. He currently leads the Pichichi race by five goals and is performing at world-class level. He'll aim to find the net again, though Gonzalo García could substitute him to ensure freshness for the Liverpool encounter.
