Vinicius Jr out for Real Madrid today against Valencia in LaLiga

Real Madrid take on Valencia at Mestalla (3pm ET) in one of LaLiga’s most entertaining fixtures, with Los Blancos making the trip to the east coast in search of three points that would keep them within touching distance of FC Barcelona in the title race.

Valencia go into the game in 16th position, on 23 points after 22 games, with a recent run marked by inconsistent results and a painful Copa del Rey exit at the hands of Athletic Club.

The good news for Los Che, apart from the fact that they’re playing at home with almost 50,000 fans on their side, is that the visitors will be without a number of key names for the fixture.

Brazilian pair Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo will not be available for Álvaro Arbeloa for this fixture, with the former serving a suspension while the latter recovers from an injury.

Why is Vinicius Jr not playing for Real Madrid against Valencia?

Vini Jr received his 5th yellow card of the season during the recent LaLiga game against Rayo Vallecano, where a last-gasp Mbappé penalty was needed for his side to take the win, and he will now serve a one-game suspension.

Why is Rodrygo not playing for Real Madrid against Valencia?

Rodrygo, meanwhile, is going to spend the next two weeks in the physio room as he recovers from "tendinosis in the hamstring of his right leg" that has ruled him out for the upcoming fixture and puts a serious question mark over his availability against Real Sociedad. He is, according to the club, “awaiting progress” on the evolution of the injury.

Why is Bellingham not playing for Real Madrid against Valencia?

And that’s not all Arbeloa has to deal with when it comes to absences from his starting side. Jude Bellingham will also not be available for selection for the game, as the midfielder has suffered what the club called a "semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg“.

In a statement, Real Madrid said that the player will be out of action for around a month, meaning he will also miss the LaLiga clash against the Txuri Urdin, as well as the two-legged Champions League round against SL Benfica. He is pencilled in for a return around the beginning of March.