Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa announced the squad list for the Matchday 36 clash against Real Oviedo on Thursday, May 14, 2026. The selection marks the return of Kylian Mbappe and captain Dani Carvajal to the group for the fixture at the Santiago Bernabéu, though five senior players remain unavailable.
The return of Kylian Mbappe to the matchday squad provides a significant boost for Real Madrid as they enter the final stretch of the 2025/26 La Liga campaign. The French forward had been absent for the previous two fixtures, missing matchups against RCD Espanyol and FC Barcelona due to injury. His reintegration into the squad for the Real Oviedo fixture suggests a recovery timeline that aligns with the club’s needs for the closing stages of the season.
Alongside Mbappe, captain Dani Carvajal also returns to the selection. The veteran defender’s inclusion carries particular weight given the timing; reporting indicates this will be one of his final appearances at the Santiago Bernabéu. His presence in the squad offers a stabilizing influence for a defensive unit currently grappling with several high-profile absences.
Defensive Absences and Academy Call-ups
While the return of Carvajal is a positive development, Alvaro Arbeloa is managing a depleted defensive line. Five key players are confirmed as unavailable for the Matchday 36 encounter: Eder Militao, Ferland Mendy, Dean Huijsen, Rodrygo Goes, and Arda Guler. The absence of Militao and Mendy, in particular, strips the team of its primary defensive anchors, forcing Arbeloa to look toward the club’s youth system to fill the gaps.
To compensate for these losses, the manager has promoted several academy talents. Joan Martinez, Thiago Pitarch, Cesar Palacios, and Daniel Yanez have all been called up to the first-team squad. These inclusions highlight a necessary reliance on the “La Fabrica” pipeline to maintain squad depth during a period of concentrated injuries.
The goalkeeping situation also sees a shift. While Thibaut Courtois remains the primary option, backup Andriy Lunin is unavailable due to illness. Consequently, Fran Gonzalez and Sergio Mestre have been named as the two backup goalkeepers for the match.
Full Squad Breakdown for Matchday 36
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Fran González, and Mestre.
Defenders: Carvajal, Alaba, Trent, Asencio, Á. Carreras, Fran García, Rüdiger, and Joan Martínez.
Midfielders: Bellingham, Camavinga, Tchouameni, Thiago, and Palacios.
Forwards: Vini Jr., Mbappé, Gonzalo, Brahim, Mastantuono, and Yáñez.
The midfield remains relatively stable, featuring the established core of Jude Bellingham, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni, supplemented by Thiago and Cesar Palacios. The attacking line, now bolstered by Mbappe, sees Vini Jr. and Brahim Diaz remaining key components, while young talents like Mastantuono and Daniel Yanez provide additional options on the bench.
Tactical Implications of the Selection
The availability of Trent Alexander-Arnold and David Alaba, alongside the returning Carvajal and Antonio Rüdiger, provides Arbeloa with a viable, if strained, defensive rotation. However, the lack of Ferland Mendy and Eder Militao creates a void in the center and left of the defense that will likely be filled by a combination of the veteran Rüdiger and the newly promoted Joan Martinez.
The return of Mbappe changes the offensive dynamic significantly. His presence allows Vini Jr. to operate with more freedom, potentially shifting the attacking focus and forcing Real Oviedo to adjust their defensive marking schemes. With Arda Guler and Rodrygo unavailable, the creative burden falls more heavily on Bellingham and Brahim Diaz to provide the necessary service to the strikers.
The integration of youth players like Daniel Yanez and Thiago Pitarch suggests that Arbeloa may be open to utilizing his bench for tactical rotations, especially if the game state allows for a comfortable lead. This strategy not only manages the fatigue of the remaining starters but also provides critical first-team experience to the academy graduates during a high-pressure phase of the league season.
The match will be broadcast via Orange TV and Dazn, marking a critical point in the 2025/26 campaign as Real Madrid seeks to maintain its momentum heading into the final matches of the season.
