Real Madrid's Explosive Attack Trio Mbappe, Vinicius, and Rodrygo Set to Unleash Against Mallorca
Real Madrid has enjoyed an impressive beginning to the 2025–26 campaign, securing two victories from two matches while maintaining a clean sheet record.
While Xabi Alonso utilized the Club World Cup to implement his tactical philosophy and concepts with his Madrid roster, the lack of a traditional preseason means his squad continues to adapt and develop on the fly.
Establishing robust defensive stability has been a primary focus for the new coach, having taken over a team that frequently found themselves outpaced and tactically outmaneuvered by rivals during the previous campaign, despite possessing exceptional individual talent.
Alonso possesses an abundance of quality players at his command, and finding the right balance within his squad while maximizing their collective star quality remains the challenging objective the Spanish manager continues to address. Considering this context, here's the potential lineup he might select for Mallorca's upcoming visit this Saturday evening.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Mallorca (4-3-3)
GK: Thibaut Courtois—Madrid's enhanced defensive solidity means Courtois has faced minimal pressure across both matches, and the Belgian goalkeeper will welcome another comfortable performance in this fixture.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold—Expect significant rotation in the full-back positions, with Dani Carvajal replacing the English defender in the previous match. Alexander-Arnold, who wasn't selected for the England national team, might earn a swift return against Mallorca's organized setup.
CB: Éder Militão—Alonso will likely rotate his central defensive options as well. Antonio Rüdiger started the last encounter, but Militão has the opportunity to establish himself as the primary choice following his recovery from two serious knee injuries.
CB: Dean Huijsen—Huijsen's position in the starting eleven appears secure. Alonso expressed strong admiration for the former Bournemouth center-back prior to Saturday's match, emphasizing the defender's significance to his tactical setup.
LB: Álvaro Carreras—With Ferland Mendy unavailable, Carreras faces minimal competition for the left-back role. He's expected to start ahead of Fran García once more on Saturday.
CM: Aurélien Tchouaméni—The coach praised Eduardo Camavinga before the match, but the former Rennes midfielder remains unavailable due to injury. Therefore, fellow Frenchman Tchouaméni will maintain his position at the defensive midfield base.
CM: Federico Valverde—Alonso has stated he "cannot demand anything more" from Valverde. The dynamic Uruguayan appears set to accumulate another substantial amount of playing time this season.
CM: Arda Güler—The talented Turkish midfielder has become one of Alonso's preferred players, and he'll continue to function as the creative connection between the defensive and attacking phases.
RW: Rodrygo—Alonso indicated that Rodrygo's optimal position is on the left wing, but he also acknowledged the Brazilian's remarkable adaptability. To achieve harmony among Madrid's attacking stars, Rodrygo must be utilized on the right flank.
ST: Kylian Mbappé—This squad belongs to Mbappé without question. After claiming the Pichichi trophy in his inaugural season, the French forward has netted three goals across two matches to begin 2025–26. His form appears exceptional.
LW: Vinícius Júnior—The Brazilian winger, consistently linked with potential transfers, was omitted from Alonso's starting lineup last week after a disappointing display in the Osasuna victory. Nevertheless, Viní Jr is a talent who cannot be suppressed for extended periods, and he found the net as a substitute in Oviedo.
