Real Madrid lineup against Valencia under Mourinho, Digi Mart USA News: Jose Mourinho has named his Real Madrid side to face Valencia this evening at the Mestalla, in the twelfth round of the Spanish league. Los Blancos are chasing an eighth straight win and keeping up their pursuit of top spot.
According to the Spanish website Defensa Central, which revealed the Portuguese coach’s selections, Vinicius Junior misses out as he completes his suspension. Ivorian Yan Diomande steps in to replace him, and there are changes in defence and midfield as well.
Real Madrid’s line-up was as follows. Defence: Fede Valverde, Ibrahima Konate, Dean Huijsen and Marc Cucurella.
Midfield: Aurelien Tchouameni, Bernardo Silva, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomande.
Konate and Huijsen return to partner each other at the heart of defence. Valverde takes the right-back role and Cucurella holds the left flank, while Tchouameni comes back into midfield alongside Bernardo Silva after being rested against AEK Athens.
Up front, Mourinho leans on Mbappe, who has scored in Real Madrid’s last six matches. Diomande, in sparkling form over recent weeks, lines up beside him.
Bellingham takes the playmaker role after an impressive showing in Greece and a superb back-heel goal.
Confidence is high in the Madrid camp. The team has scored 21 goals in its last seven games and recorded two eye-catching wins, 2-1 over Barcelona and 3-0 over Racing Santander, and wants to keep the run going before the international break.
Valencia sit second from bottom on 9 points. That is despite a 1-0 win over Elche last round, the first victory under Mexican coach Javier Aguirre, who succeeded Carlos Corberan on 23 September.
