Mbappe Sidelined as Real Madrid Face Getafe with Depleted Squad—Who Makes the Cut?
Real Madrid welcome Getafe on Monday evening with the necessity to secure all three points to maintain their position in the La Liga championship battle.
Los Blancos momentarily seized the league summit before succumbing to a 2–1 defeat against Osasuna last weekend, marking Álvaro Arbeloa's inaugural league loss as head coach. Real Madrid bounced back with a victory over Benfica to advance to the Champions League round of 16, but focus now returns to league competition.
Securing victory against Getafe is essential following Barcelona's triumph over Villarreal that extended their lead to four points at the summit. Real Madrid must now deliver a response, though they'll be forced to do so without several key players.
Arbeloa Must Navigate Star Player's Absence
Arbeloa Must Navigate Star Player's Absence
Kylian Mbappé will be absent for his second consecutive match as he continues recovering from a knee problem that has affected his participation since late 2025. No definitive return date has been established for Mbappé, but considering the recurring nature of the issue, Madrid are likely to exercise extreme caution and he will definitely miss Monday's encounter with Getafe.
Gonzalo García and Vinicius Junior are anticipated to lead Madrid's offensive line once more, though other positions present concerns. Raúl Asencio sustained what appeared to be a neck problem against Benfica and remains questionable for Monday's fixture, a considerable setback with fellow central defender Dean Huijsen also managing fitness concerns.
Dani Ceballos, Jude Bellingham and Éder Militão round out the injury list. However, Madrid might receive a lift from Rodrygo's potential return, as he could make his first appearance in almost four weeks.
Real Madrid Expected Formation vs. Getafe (4-4-2)
Real Madrid Expected Formation vs. Getafe (4-4-2)
GK: Thibaut Courtois—The Belgian keeper maintains his status as arguably the world's finest goalkeeper and seeks his La Liga-leading 12th shutout of the campaign.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold—Alexander-Arnold's capacity to manufacture scoring opportunities from nothing could prove vital for Madrid's depleted attacking unit. However, the English defender must also maintain defensive solidity, unlike his midweek performance against Benfica.
CB: Antonio Rüdiger—The German defender must elevate his game and lead a defensive line weakened by injuries, offering a composed and reliable presence at the center of the backline.
CB: David Alaba—The experienced player will probably start given the injury crisis. This represents an opportunity for him to make an impact, though it should be noted he hasn't generated much confidence in recent months.
LB: Álvaro Carreras—Carreras has embodied reliability in his debut campaign with Los Blancos and another solid performance is needed on Monday, with Luis Milla appearing to be his direct opponent.
RM: Federico Valverde—Valverde appears to have returned to peak form and his impact has become evident in recent weeks, registering four goal contributions across four matches heading into Monday's contest.
CM: Arda Güler—The Turkish talent has struggled to impress in recent outings but continues to feature regularly with Bellingham and Ceballos unavailable. Nevertheless, another disappointing display might lead to diminished playing time going forward.
CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—The French midfielder produced his finest Toni Kroos imitation with an elegant strike against Benfica and will aim to continue displaying glimpses of the legendary player's excellence.
LM: Eduardo Camavinga—Operating without fanfare, Camavinga has delivered a series of solid performances. His adaptability has been utilized by Arbeloa and he'll remain among Los Blancos' most frequently deployed assets.
ST: Gonzalo García—Charged with matching Mbappé's enormous production, García has commendably stepped up for the most part, already netting several important goals in his first complete season with the first team.
ST: Vinicius Junior—The Brazilian has recaptured his peak performance level under Arbeloa and represents the solution for Los Blancos to cope without Mbappé, as he appears unstoppable in recent matches.