Predicted XI Real Madrid-Espanyol: Xabi Alonso’s five changes and Vini Jr recall

Real Madrid return to La Liga action today with a home tie against unbeaten Espanyol at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

The Catalans land in Madrid unbeaten in their opening four games of the 2025/26 league campaign with Francisco Garcia’s side third in the rankings.

Top scorer Pere Milla is missing through suspension but the visitors are not expected to make too many starting changes.

Th opposite it the case for Xabi Alonso on the back of a midweek 2-1 UEFA Champions League win over Marseille in the Spanish capital.

Four wins from four in La Liga – plus that opening UCL victory – has ensured a perfect start for Alonso back in Madrid but he is forced into a reshuffle.

Trent Alexander-Arnold was forced off injured after just five minutes against Marseille with the England international sidelined for at least six weeks with a hamstring issue.

As per Diario Sport, club captain Dani Carvajal will rotate in as a replacement, with Fran Garcia covering at left-back to offer Alvaro Carreras a break.

La Liga’s controversial call to uphold Dean Huijsen’s suspension means he also misses out with Raul Asencio on standby to cover.

With a short turnaround in between there’s likely to be changes elsewhere with Brahim Diaz back fit and potentially replacing Franco Mastantuno.

However, the main decision facing Alonso is what to do with Vinicius Junior after he remained on the bench against Roberto De Zerbi’s visitors, and the Los Blancos boss faced questions over his plans for the Brazilian.

Alonso played down any concerns and insisted his No.7 is refreshed and ready to come back into the starting team in fellow of Rodrygo Goes.

Real Madrid’s potential XI: Courtois; Carvajal, Militao, Asencio, Fran García; Tchouaméni, Valverde, Güler; Brahim, Vinicius, Mbappé.

Espanyol’s potential XI: Dmitrovic; El Hilali; Calero, Cabrera, Romero; Urko, Expósito, Lozano; Dolan, Puado, Roberto.