David Alaba and Franco Mastantuono will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup when they take on Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16 on Wednesday.
Real Madrid will aim to progress to the Copa del Rey quarter-finals when they lock horns with Albacete at Estadio Carlos Belmonte in the round of 16 on Wednesday night. Alvaro Arbeloa has no new issues to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture.
Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Eder Militao (hamstring), and Ferland Mendy (hamstring) remain in the treatment room. Meanwhile, Brahim Diaz is still at the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco, preparing for the semi-final against Nigeria.
During his pre-match press conference, Arbeloa did not provide fitness updates on any player. Instead, the Spanish tactician discussed his charges and their commitment towards the cause for the remainder of the 2025/26 season.
The Real Madrid boss said, "We’ve all seen the season and the effort they put in during the Super Cup final. We have a fantastic squad and a group of players who are ready to do what it takes, well aware of the demands of Real Madrid. Some have won six Champions Leagues, and people forget that quickly."
"Winning with this crest only comes through values like sacrifice, hard work, and consistency. That’s what has made Real Madrid the greatest club in history and gave us this incredible record. That’s what these players have. They’re great professionals with enormous talent. All of them are good guys who want to do things right."
"No one wants to win titles more than Real Madrid players. I know what winning means and the happiness it brings to millions of fans worldwide. I told them this morning that the best time of my life was as a Real Madrid player. They need to enjoy it — they’re hugely demanding of themselves. Today was my first day, my first contact, and I can’t wait for tomorrow for our first game together."
Andriy Lunin will replace Thibaut Courtois between the sticks, with Real Madrid lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him against Albacete on Wednesday. The backline will feature Dani Carvajal, David Alaba, Alvaro C arreras, and Fran Garcia.
As for the midfield unit, Thiago Pitarch will get an opportunity to impress, lining up alongside Dani Ceballos and Arda Guler in the middle of the park. Finally, Gonzalo Garcia will lead the line for the away side, with Franco Mastantuono and Rodrygo Goes completing the numbers in the offensive unit.
Predicted Real Madrid XI: Lunin; Carvajal, Alaba, C arreras, Fran Garcia; Guler, Ceballos, Pitarch; Rodrygo, Gonzalo Garcia, Mastantuono.