Real Madrid is back in La Liga action at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, taking on second-bottom Levante, as they look to turn around a disappointing run of two defeats.
Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Saturday, January 17.
- Kick-off: 1pm BST.
- Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid.
Real Madrid Team News
Real Madrid faces several injury issues ahead of this match. Kylian Mbappé, while improving from a left knee sprain, has been ruled out.
Reports state that although the pain has decreased, the club doesn’t consider him fit for competitive play and will not risk him.
Other absentees include Trent Alexander-Arnold (left thigh), Éder Militão (hamstring), Brahim Díaz (AFCON), and Ferland Mendy (ankle). Antonio Rudiger will undergo a late fitness test for his knee problem.
However, key players like Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois, Álvaro Carreras, and Aurélien Tchouaméni—who were rested during the Copa del Rey defeat—are expected to start.
Rodrygo will also miss out as he continues to recover from recent efforts. Dani Carvajal may get the nod at right-back, allowing Federico Valverde to return to midfield.
Levante Team News
Levante’s squad largely remains the same, with Roger Brugué (knee), Unai Elgezabal (knee), and Víctor García (hamstring) unavailable.
Midfielder Kervin Arriaga is a late fitness concern due to a minor leg injury, with Unai Vencedor or Ugo Raghouber as possible replacements.
Etta Eyong, back from Africa Cup of Nations duties, is likely to play in attack after coming off the bench recently.
Forward Iván Romero, who has four goals and one assist this season, will lead the offense with support from midfield.
Form
Real Madrid
Real Madrid started 2026 with a 5-1 win against Real Betis but then lost to Barcelona (3-2 in the Super Cup final) and Albacete (3-2 in the Copa del Rey) in just four days.
Despite these setbacks, they have eight wins and one loss at home in league matches this season, providing some comfort before Saturday’s game.
Currently, they sit second in La Liga with 45 points from 19 matches, still in contention for the title.
Levante
Levante has improved under interim coaching after Castro’s arrival, going unbeaten in their last three matches with one win and two draws.
They recently achieved a 3-0 win at home against Sevilla, showcasing their ability to compete well.
Levante is currently in 19th place with 14 points from 18 matches, trailing 17th-placed Mallorca by four points, although they have a game in hand.
Predicted Lineups
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Guler, Garcia, Vinicius.
Levante: Ryan; Toljan, De la Fuente, Moreno, Pampin; Martinez, Vencedor; Romero, Alvarez, Losada; Eyong.
How to Watch Real Madrid vs Levante?
In the UK, La Liga TV will show the match live.
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