Mourinho Names Injury-Hit Real Madrid Squad for Malaga Clash
José Mourinho has confirmed his Real Madrid squad for Sunday’s La Liga clash away to Malaga, and it comes with some notable absentees and a clear nod to the club’s youth ranks.
Aurélien Tchouaméni and Endrick miss out again. Different problems, same outcome.
Tchouaméni is still struggling with persistent pain that has dogged him since he returned from the post-World Cup leave granted by the club. The midfielder has managed only a few appearances this season and once more drops out of contention as Madrid head into the third round of the league campaign.
Endrick’s situation is different. The forward is working under a specific programme tailored to protect him over the full length of the season, so he is again kept out of the matchday group. At the back, Raúl Asencio is also unavailable due to shin issues, trimming Mourinho’s defensive options.
The absences do not end there. Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Thiago Pitarch are all ruled out of the Malaga game, leaving Mourinho to lean on the depth of his squad and the club’s academy.
The pressure on numbers has opened the door for three youngsters: Mario Rivas, Sicetero and Alexis Ceria all receive call-ups from the youth categories. They join a squad still stacked with senior quality but carrying a very different look on the fringes.
Real Madrid’s squad for the trip to Malaga:
- Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Javi Navarro
- Defenders: Huijsen, Trent, Konaté, Cucurella, Carreras, Rüdiger, Dumfries, Mario Rivas
- Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Arda Güler, Bernardo Silva, Sicetero, Alexis Ceria
With injuries biting early in the season, Mourinho turns to the academy and trusts his core stars. Malaga will show whether that blend can hold its nerve.
