Real Madrid’s Champions League campaign kicks off on September 8 against Inter Milan, and José Mourinho is working with something closer to a skeleton crew than a galáctico squad. Ten players are unavailable for the league-phase opener at Santiago Bernabéu.
The absences span suspensions and injuries. Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Güler, and Bernardo Silva are all suspended, while Aurélien Tchouaméni, Éder Militão, Rodrygo, and Ferland Mendy are sidelined with injuries.
A midfield held together by one man
Federico Valverde is the sole senior midfielder available to Mourinho.
Jude Bellingham may be pressed into a deeper midfield role to compensate for the absence of dedicated options.
