Overview
- Real Madrid published their official squad on Saturday and excluded seven first‑team players: Aurélien Tchouaméni, Endrick, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy, Thiago Pitarch, Rodrygo and Raúl Asencio.
- Militão and Endrick were seen making progress by doing separate conditioning and ball work at Valdebebas but were not expected to be available for the Malaga match.
- José Mourinho confirmed Marc Cucurella will start at left‑back and named multiple youth players to the matchday group, including Javi Navarro, Mario Rivas, Jorge Cestero and Alexis Ciria.
- Real Madrid head into the game on the back of two league wins and are managing recoveries carefully to avoid setbacks with a busy domestic and Champions League schedule approaching.
- In parallel fixtures, Sevilla sit on six points and high form for their game against Atlético Madrid, who travel without Julián Álvarez, Alexander Sørloth and suspended defender Robin Le Normand.