Mbappe, Rudiger start in a 4-3-3 – How Real Madrid can line up against Sevilla | OneFootball

Real Madrid play their penultimate game of the 2025/26 season later today when they take on Sevilla away at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

After losing the Clasico to Barcelona and seeing their rivals lift the La Liga title, Real Madrid bounced back earlier this week with a solid 2-0 win over Real Oviedo at the Santiago Bernabeu.

However, the performance was marred by the post-match war of words between superstar Kylian Mbappe and manager Alvaro Arbeloa.

With the Spanish tactician insisting that the issue has been left in the rearview mirror, the players must refocus on matters on the pitch, with the aim of ending the season as strongly as possible.

Real Madrid go into the match without several key players as Eder Militao, Rodrygo Goes, Arda Guler, and Ferland Mendy all remain unavailable. Andriy Lunin’s availability also seems doubtful as he has not fully recovered from an illness.

Federico Valverde did resume training in the past couple of days after recovering from his head injury, although a return for today’s trip to Andalusia seems unlikely.

With that being said, here’s how Arbeloa could set his team up in what is expected to be the penultimate match of his tenure as Real Madrid manager.

Defence

Thibaut Courtois will start in goal once again as usual for Real Madrid and will hope to secure another clean sheet following the one against Real Oviedo earlier in the week.

Despite captain Dani Carvajal’s impending departure, the 34-year-old is unlikely to start tonight, with Trent Alexander-Arnold expected to hold on to his place at right-back.

However, there could be a change on the opposite side, with Fran Garcia replacing Alvaro Carreras.

Fran Garcia and Antonio Rudiger in line to start. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)

At the heart of the backline, Antonio Rudiger, who did not start in the midweek fixture, is expected to return to the team, possibly at the expense of fellow veteran David Alaba. Raul Asencio is expected to hold on to his place for another match.

Midfield

Aurelien Tchouameni, despite the recent controversy, has been one of Real Madrid’s most consistent players in the current campaign and will hold on to his place at the base of the midfield unit.

Youngster Thiago Pitarch, whose emergence has been one of the positives of the Arbeloa era, should come into the team today at the expense of Eduardo Camavinga.

Meanwhile, Jude Bellingham will occupy the third midfield slot for Real Madrid after coming off the bench to score a goal in the victory over Real Oviedo.

Attack

Despite what went down earlier in the week, Kylian Mbappe is expected to reclaim his starting spot as Real Madrid’s striker against Sevilla tonight. He will replace youngster Gonzalo Garcia, who scored a goal in the midweek win.

On the left side, Vinicius Jr. will keep his place, as he has constantly done under Arbeloa, despite back-to-back poor performances against Barcelona and Oviedo. The Brazilian will be eager to finish strongly.

Brahim Diaz should continue his recent string of starts with another appearance from kickoff, featuring on the right side of Real Madrid’s attack.