Official: Real Madrid starting lineup against Deportivo Alaves | Mbappe returns | OneFootball

Real Madrid are set to take on Deportivo Alaves in about an hour, in what could be the most important game for Xabi Alonso.

Heading into this crucial tie, Real Madrid have announced their starting eleven, with Alonso making quite a few changes from the side that lost to Manchester City in the Champions League.

Kylian Mbappe returns to the starting eleven, leading the Real Madrid frontline alongside Rodrygo and Vinicius Jr.

Mbappe replaces Gonzalo Garcia, who was given the nod due to the Frenchman not being fully fit to start against Man City.

In defence, Alvaro Carreras, who started at left-back against Manchester City, drops out of the squad entirely due to suspension.

With Fran García also suspended and Ferland Mendy injured, Alonso has had to improvise in the backline to partner Antonio Rüdiger and Raul Asencio.

In the fullback slots, Federico Valverde starts at right-back, but Alonso has started young prodigy Victor Valdepenas in the left-back slot, although the youngster will ideally operate as a left-sided centre-back.

Arda Guler returns to the setup as well and will form the Real Madrid midfield alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham.

Franco Mastantuono, meanwhile, continues to start on the bench. The Argentine has not started a single game since returning from injury.