Real Madrid squad reshaped by absences for Sunday’s Malaga meeting

Real Madrid will be without several first-team players for Sunday’s La Liga game against Malaga after manager Jose Mourinho named a squad affected by a series of fitness problems.

Aurelien Tchouameni and Endrick remain unavailable because of separate physical issues, while the list has been supplemented by three players from the club’s youth system: Mario Rivas, Cestero and Alexis Seria.

The match will be Real Madrid’s third game of the La Liga campaign. Tchouameni has continued to experience pain since returning from the holiday he took after the end of the World Cup, limiting his opportunities to train and play alongside his team-mates. He has consequently been left out once again for the visit to Malaga.

Endrick, meanwhile, is following an individual programme intended to help him avoid physical problems during the season. Defender Raul Asencio has also missed out because of an issue affecting the bone in his leg.

The list of absentees is completed by Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Rodrygo and Thiago Pitarch, all of whom will also sit out Sunday’s fixture.

Despite those omissions, Mourinho has selected a 23-man squad, including three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and five forwards.

In goal, Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin and Javi Navarro have been included.

The defensive options are Dean Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella, Carreras, Antonio Rudiger, Denzel Dumfries and academy player Mario Rivas.

Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, Federico Valverde, Arda Guler, Bernardo Silva, Cestero and Alexis Seria make up the midfield group.

The attack features Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, Espe, Brahim Diaz and Yan Diomande.

Tchouameni’s continued absence means he will again miss the chance to build momentum with the rest of the Real Madrid squad after his post-World Cup break. Endrick’s carefully managed programme likewise keeps him out of consideration, while Asencio’s leg problem has further reduced Mourinho’s defensive choices.

Malaga will therefore face a Real Madrid side whose squad contains a mixture of established international players and younger members promoted from the academy. The club published the selection on social media with the message: “¡Nuestros convocados!” (“Our squad!”), alongside the fixture reference for the meeting with Malaga CF.