The Santiago Bernabéu doesn't do "patience." You've seen it a thousand times—a player misplaces a pass in the 15th minute and the whistles start. But right now, things feel different in Madrid. The Real Madrid soccer lineup is currently undergoing a massive, somewhat chaotic transformation that has nothing to do with just "buying stars."
Honestly, the transition from the Ancelotti era to the new leadership under Álvaro Arbeloa—who stepped in just days ago on January 12, 2026—has been anything but smooth. If you’re looking at the team sheet and wondering why it looks like a Castilla reunion, you aren't alone.
Why the Real Madrid soccer lineup looks so "weird" right now
Most people expect to see names like Mbappé, Bellingham, and Vinícius Júnior every single week. On paper, that’s the greatest attack in football history. In reality, the medical room at Valdebebas is more crowded than the starting XI.
Take the recent January 14 Copa del Rey clash against Albacete. Arbeloa's debut was a literal trial by fire. He didn't have 11 first-team players. Eleven!
When you lose Kylian Mbappé and Rodrygo to "physical discomfort" (the classic Madrid way of saying they’re exhausted or nursing a tweak) and Antonio Rüdiger to a knee issue, the lineup stops looking like a Galáctico squad and starts looking like an experiment. We saw Lunin in goal, protected by a makeshift backline of David Jiménez, Asencio, Huijsen, and Fran García.
It’s a lot to process.
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The Injury Crisis: A Breakdown of the Absentee List
It is actually kind of wild when you look at who is missing as of mid-January 2026:
- Trent Alexander-Arnold: The big summer arrival from Liverpool. Out with a thigh injury until February.
- Éder Militão: A severe hamstring injury. He might not be back for months.
- David Alaba: Managing his return, often starting on the bench.
- Brahim Díaz: Currently away with Morocco for AFCON.
- Jude Bellingham & Tchouaméni: Rested during the cup, but essentially playing every minute of "real" football otherwise.
This isn't just bad luck; it’s the result of a calendar that’s basically a meat grinder. Madrid has already played 29 games this season. They’ve won 20, but the 3-2 loss to Albacete showed that even the most talented academy kids can't always cover for the world's best.
The Xabi Alonso shadow and Arbeloa's tactical shift
For a few months, it looked like Xabi Alonso was going to be the long-term successor to Carlo Ancelotti. He even won an El Clásico 2-1 back in October. But football moves fast. With Arbeloa now in the hot seat, the tactical setup is shifting.
Under Ancelotti, we saw a lot of "organized chaos." He let Vini Jr. and Mbappé swap wings constantly. Arbeloa, having coached many of these kids in the academy, is leaning toward a more rigid structure.
Basically, he wants the Real Madrid soccer lineup to press higher. In his first session, he prioritized the "La Fabrica" starlets. We're talking about Gonzalo García, who just bagged a hat-trick against Real Betis earlier this month, and Franco Mastantuono, the Argentine wonderkid who is already getting compared to a young Messi (though let's be real, who isn't?).
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The "Core" that remains
Even with the injuries, there are three players who define the current lineup's spine:
- Federico Valverde: He is the vice-captain now and basically doesn't have lungs. He's played over 1,400 minutes already this season.
- Thibaut Courtois: Still the best goalkeeper in the world when fit, though Lunin is a very capable backup when the Belgian needs a break.
- Vinícius Júnior: He is the heartbeat. Despite all the noise, Vini is the one who stretches defenses and makes space for Mbappé to operate centrally.
The Mbappé factor: Is it working?
Sort of.
Kylian Mbappé is the top scorer with 29 goals across all competitions. That’s an insane number. But if you watch the games, there’s still a weird tension in the Real Madrid soccer lineup. He and Vini Jr. both naturally want to drift to that left channel.
Earlier in the season, Xabi Alonso tried a 4-4-2 diamond to squeeze everyone in. It worked for a bit, but it left the fullbacks—usually Mendy and Carvajal—completely exposed. Now, Arbeloa is trying to revert to a more traditional 4-3-3.
The problem? You need a "true" number nine for that. With Endrick out on loan at Lyon until the end of the season, Madrid is relying on Gonzalo or playing a false nine. It’s a tactical puzzle that hasn't been solved yet.
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What to expect in the next few weeks
Madrid is currently sitting second in La Liga, four points behind Barcelona. The room for error is zero.
Coming up on January 17, they face Levante. Expect the lineup to look a bit more "normal" than the cup disaster. Bellingham and Tchouaméni will almost certainly return to the midfield. However, the defense is still a total lottery. Dean Huijsen, the young defender bought from Bournemouth, has been forced into a starting role much sooner than anyone planned. He’s good on the ball (averaging 5.1 accurate long balls per 90), but he’s still learning the "dark arts" of defending at the Bernabéu.
Real-world insights for fans and bettors:
- Don't bet on clean sheets: With Militão and Rüdiger struggling, Madrid's defense is vulnerable. They've only kept two clean sheets in the Champions League phase so far.
- Watch Arda Güler: He’s the "assist king" in training and has 6 in actual matches. If he starts, the service to Mbappé improves drastically.
- The "Castilla" bench: Keep an eye on Raúl Asencio. He’s not a household name yet, but he’s currently the most reliable center-back fit for duty.
The Real Madrid soccer lineup isn't a fixed list of superstars anymore. It’s a living, breathing, and slightly bruised organism. If you’re tracking the team, focus less on the names on the back of the jersey and more on who is actually fit enough to run for 90 minutes.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep a close watch on the Friday injury reports directly from Valdebebas. The difference between a "discomfort" and a "tear" is what will decide if Madrid catches Barcelona or ends the season empty-handed. Watch the Levante game closely—it will tell us if Arbeloa has the tactical flexibility to survive the most demanding job in sports.
Next Steps for You:
Check the official squad list released 24 hours before the Levante kickoff on January 17. Specifically, look for whether Antonio Rüdiger makes the bench; if he doesn't, expect a high-scoring game as Madrid's makeshift defense will likely struggle against counter-attacks. You should also monitor Brahim Díaz's progress at AFCON, as his return in late January will be the only thing that gives Vini Jr. a much-needed rest.