Real Madrid manager Xabi Alonso will have been breathing much easier after his side beat Alaves on Sunday night, relieving some of the pressure on his job security. However he requires a convincing win against Talavera de la Reina in their opening Copa del Rey fixture of the season at El Prado to ensure that remains the case.
The bad news for Alonso is that he has lost yet another defender, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Ferland Mendy, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao and David Alaba already out. After Dani Ceballos was reportedly ruled out with a cold, he has made the squad, but Raul Asencio has also come down with illness and will miss out. Eduardo Camavinga remains out of action, with youngster Jorge Cestero, Joan Martinez, Thiago Pitarch, David Jimenez and Victor Valdepenas included in the squad. Fede Valverde, Antonio Rudiger and Thibaut Courtois have all been left out to rest.
📋✅ ¡Nuestros convocados!
🆚 @CFTalavera pic.twitter.com/0n2ALzyUkn
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) December 17, 2025
Xabi Alonso to send out strong team
Although Alonso will rotate, Diario AS predict a strong side to face Talavera. It is worth noting that rules dictate only three academy players can play at one time, and as Franco Mastantuono is registered as a Castilla player, he counts towards that amount. Mastantuono looks set to start his first game since the first of November, after recovering from a sports hernia.
#RealMadrid boss Xabi Alonso needs a win without drama against Talavera de la Reina in the Copa del Rey this evening.
Diario AS say there will be rests for Mbappe and Vinicius, but it will still be a strong team he puts out – Raul Asencio is a late dropout from the squad. pic.twitter.com/s8s6B5D0fJ
— Football España (@footballespana_) December 17, 2025
Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius to be rested
All the same, Sport coincide with AS’ prediction that Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior will be rested, making way for Gonzalo Garcia and Mastantuono. Arda Guler is likely to start, with Alvaro Carreras at centre-back too, making space for Fran Garcia at left-back.
Predicted Teams Talavera-Real Madrid
Image via Sport
There is some doubt over whether Endrick Felipe will be handed his first start of the season, with Jude Bellingham and Aurelien Tchouameni’s presence also in question. Los Blancos host Sevilla on Saturday night at the Santiago Bernabeu in their final game of 2025, which is also being described as must-win.