Real Madrid don return from international break and dem dey ready to face Mallorca for matchday 30 of LaLiga. The match go hold for Son Moix stadium by 4:15 pm CEST today, and e go dey live for Orange TV and Movistar LaLiga.
Arbeloa boys dey eye sixth consecutive victory after dem don beat Manchester City two times for Champions League, plus Atlético, Elche, and Celta for league. Coach Arbeloa talk say dem no get any margin for error again. “We no longer have any margin for error, and we are playing for every competition in every match,” im yarn for pre-match press conference.
But some players no go fit play. Federico Valverde dey suspended after red card for Madrid derby. Thibaut Courtois, Ferland Mendy, and Rodrygo dey injured. Good news na say Éder Militão don return to squad list after recovering from injury.
For Mallorca side, dem dey 18th place for table with 28 points. Dem get new coach, Demichelis, wey don collect four points from three matches. Their top scorer na Vedat Muriqi with 18 goals for domestic league.
This match na first of many tough games for April. Real Madrid go still face Bayern for Champions League quarterfinals, plus league matches against Girona, Alavés, and Betis. Arbeloa team don collect 30 points away from home this season—na di highest for LaLiga.
For injury news, Jude Bellingham dey back from hamstring injury but no too ready to start. England manager Thomas Tuchel no play am for international break, and Real Madrid no too happy about that. Eduardo Camavinga likely go start for midfield instead.
Brahim Díaz fit start to give Vinicius Junior rest after Brazilian complain of thigh pain. Thibaut Courtois, Rodrygo, Dani Ceballos, Ferland Mendy, and Raúl Asencio all dey out. Andriy Lunin go keep goal for Courtois.
Defense line go feature Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras. Midfield go include Arda Güler, Thiago Pitarch, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Eduardo Camavinga. Attack go feature Brahim Díaz and Kylian Mbappé.
Speaking of Mbappé, coach Arbeloa don deny reports say medical staff misdiagnose im knee injury. “Mbappe has clearly said that this information is absolutely false,” Arbeloa talk. “I think it’s time to leave Mbappe’s knee behind and focus on his goals.”
Mbappé don score for France during international break and no show signs of injury. Im go face Mallorca backline wey dey leak goals this season.
Meanwhile, for transfer news, Manchester City don offer Rodri new contract to stop am from moving to Real Madrid. Rodri talk say playing for Atlético Madrid before no mean im no fit play for Real Madrid. “Others have made that move too, and you cannot turn down the best clubs in the world,” im yarn.
Transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano report say final decision dey with Rodri and im family. If im reject new offer, Manchester City go demand substantial fee this summer. Rodri contract go expire by summer 2027.
Rodri don play 293 matches for City, score 28 goals, provide 32 assists, and win twelve trophies. Im score winning goal for 2022/23 Champions League final against Inter.
As Real Madrid dey prepare for Mallorca, dem dey also look ahead to Bayern Munich visit for Champions League. But first, dem must collect three points today to maintain pressure on Barcelona for LaLiga title race.
Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi go try use im 18 goals trouble Real Madrid defense. Dean Huijsen go need to lock am down properly.
Arbeloa talk say im understand why England no play Bellingham. “I also understand that they didn’t want to take any risks. I think Jude is smart enough to have had some good training sessions,” im add.
The match go test Real Madrid depth as dem dey miss key players. But with Mbappé dey back and Militão return, dem get enough quality to face Mallorca challenge.
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