MADRID, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid faces a difficult trip to Valencia's Mestalla Stadium on Sunday night and will do so without several key players.
Jude Bellingham is out with a hamstring injury that will keep him sidelined for around a month, while Rodrygo also has a leg issue that makes him a doubt for this weekend and next. Vinicius Junior is suspended, limiting Alvaro Arbeloa's options in attack.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is available for the first time in 2026, but Antonio Rudiger, Eder Militao and Ferland Mendy are all sidelined. Raul Asencio is also a doubt with a calf issue.
This has been a rare week without a midweek game for the Real Madrid squad after its early exit from the Copa del Rey. The club has used the time to carry out physical tests on the players, including a training session in which they wore apparent oxygen masks.
A week without having to play on Tuesday or Wednesday should help Arbeloa's squad, which has shown signs of fatigue in recent games, while players such as Arda Guler or Brahim Diaz have a chance of earning a start.
Valencia is always a hostile place for Real Madrid to visit. Vinicius Junior has often been targeted for abuse by a section of fans and, although the Brazilian will not be there, there is still likely to be tension at Mestalla.
Valencia remains in a relegation battle, sitting just a point above the drop zone. It was also knocked out in the Copa del Rey quarterfinals on Wednesday night with a 2-1 home defeat to Athletic Bilbao. ■
