Overview

• The club confirmed captain Dani Carvajal has a calf injury and will be out for 4–5 weeks, deepening defensive absences.
• Éder Militão was left out of the travelling squad for Kairat Almaty with an ankle contusion, with reports indicating the issue is short term but he will not be risked.
• Trent Alexander-Arnold, Antonio Rüdiger and Ferland Mendy are also unavailable, and Federico Valverde said he is ready to cover at right-back as tactical adjustments are weighed.
• Madrid flew east less than a day after the derby, facing a long flight and time-zone shift for Tuesday’s group match against Champions League debutants Kairat.
• Alonso acknowledged the team "didn’t compete" and is still defining its personality, while Jorge Valdano criticised the lack of intensity and fragile defending of crosses.