Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has named a strong 23-man squad for the team's postponed Matchday 1 fixture against Real Sociedad, with several changes possible due to the team's busy schedule.
Mourinho's team selection has been influenced by the four-day turnaround since their last game, which ended in a 2-1 victory over Espanyol. Jude Bellingham scored in that match, and summer signing Carlos Espi grabbed a dramatic late winner.
Defensively, Denzel Dumfries is likely to retain his place at right-back, while Thibaut Courtois will continue in goal. Centre-backs Dean Huijsen and Ibrahima Konate are also expected to keep their places, with Antonio Rudiger potentially making way.
A possible alteration could come on the left flank, as Marc Cucurella could make his Madrid debut from the bench against Espanyol. After building up his fitness, he could now be handed his first start at the club at the Bernabeu.
In midfield, Bernardo Silva will continue in the deeper role, alongside Federico Valverde. Jude Bellingham is nailed on to keep his place as the No. 10 in a 4-2-3-1, and will hope to add to his goal tally against Real Sociedad.
Up front, Kylian Mbappe is expected to lead the line once again, with Vinicius Junior retaining his place on the left flank. The biggest question comes on the right flank, where Arda Guler started the league opener and had an excellent game.
Mourinho has several attacking options from the bench if required, with Espi, Brahim and Guler all capable of changing the game. The Real Madrid manager will be looking to make it two La Liga wins from two, and a strong lineup will be crucial in achieving that goal.
With several absentees still to contend with, including Aurelien Tchouameni and Endrick, Mourinho has had to be creative in his selection. Despite the challenges, the Real Madrid manager remains confident in his team's ability to adapt and succeed.
Real Sociedad will be looking to cause an upset at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Mourinho will be aware of the danger they pose. The Real Madrid manager will be looking to make the right tactical decisions to secure all three points.
The match is scheduled to take place at the Santiago Bernabeu, with kick-off at 8:30 PM local time.
Source: Yahoo Sports
