Trent, Carvajal Back but Mbappe Out! How Can Real Madrid Line Up in Spanish Super Cup?

As Real Madrid prepare for the high-stakes Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia, head coach Xabi Alonso finds himself in a critical situation in terms of squad selection. The legendary midfielder-turned-manager has endured a turbulent few months, marked by a frustrating dip in form that saw Los Blancos surrender their La Liga lead to arch-rivals Barcelona in late 2025.

However, a thunderous 5-1 victory over Real Betis to kick off 2026 has breathed new life into the Bernabeu. With the first silverware of the season on the line, the Real Madrid lineup today faces a fascinating transformation due to a mix of returning legends and a "Next-Gen" explosion.

The road to Riyadh is paved with medical reports. Real Madrid’s "sickbay" has been the biggest headline of the season, and the Spanish Super Cup will be no different. The Spanish football club recently confirmed a massive blow: Kylian Mbappe is sidelined with a knee sprain. The Frenchman, who had been carrying the attack with 18 league goals, is expected to miss at least three weeks.

Adding to the woes, Eder Militao is a long-term absentee and summer signing Trent Alexander-Arnold is likely to remain unavailable (but is travelling with the squad). These Real Madrid injuries have forced Alonso to innovate, often shifting Federico Valverde into a makeshift right-back role.

Return of the Captain Dani Carvajal

The silver lining in this defensive cloud is the return of Dani Carvajal. After 70 days out following knee surgery, the veteran skipper is back in team training and has travelled to Saudi Arabia. While he may not start the semi-final against Atletico Madrid, his presence in the Real Madrid starting lineup vs Atletico Madrid would provide a massive psychological boost to a backline that has looked shaky under pressure.

Vini and Gonzalo: The Riyadh Riddle

While the absence of Mbappe is a setback, it has created a fascinating new dynamic in the frontline. Vinicius Jr, usually the undisputed protagonist, is currently navigating an uncharacteristically long goal drought that has seen him go matches without a find. Contrastingly, the 21-year-old Gonzalo Garcia has become the hero of the hour, netting a spectacular hat-trick against Betis.

The "Riyadh Riddle" for Real Madrid boss Alonso is how to balance Vini’s world-class threat with Gonzalo’s clinical "Midas touch". With Rodrygo currently in "phenomenal form", providing both goals and creative assists, the young Gonzalo may just be the missing piece that allows the Brazilian duo to thrive without the weight of the French superstar.

Real Madrid Starting Lineup in Spanish Super Cup

Here's a look at the predicted Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid Spanish Super Cup lineups:

Real Madrid Predicted XI (4-2-3-1):

Goalkeeper: Courtois

Defenders: Valverde, Rudiger, Asencio, Carreras

Midfielders: Tchouameni, Camavinga, Bellingham

Forwards: Rodrygo, Garcia, Vinicius

List of Real Madrid Injuries

Several big names will miss out on tonight's game, as they will not make it to the Real Madrid lineup today. Here is the complete list of Real Madrid injuries and players who will not participate in the Real Madrid starting lineup vs Atletico Madrid. Brahim Diaz is out for AFCON duty, so he is not named as part of the squad.

• Eder Militao
• Trent Alexander-Arnold (Doubtful)
• Dean Huijsen (Doubtful)

• Kylian Mbappe

  After the late 2025 dip in form, questions began to circulate about Alonso's tactical rigidity. A trophy in Saudi Arabia would serve as the ultimate validation of his "Next-Gen" philosophy—proving that he can win even when the Real Madrid starting lineup vs Atletico Madrid is missing names like Mbappe and Alexander-Arnold.