Real Madrid arrived at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero on 15 September 2026 with a clear intent to dominate the early stages of their La Liga campaign. Under José Mourinho, a side bristling with experience and youthful flair took the field, featuring Thibaut Courtois between the posts, a back line that included Marc Cucurella, Dean Huijsen, Ibrahima Konaté and Trent Alexander‑Arnold, and a midfield anchored by Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde and the Turkish playmaker Arda Güler. Up front, Vinícius Júnior, Yan Diomande and Kylian Mbappé provided the attacking thrust that has become synonymous with the Bernabéu