Jude Bellingham will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup when they take on Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday.

Real Madrid will aim to return to the summit of La Liga when they lock horns with Getafe at Coliseum Alfonso Perez on Sunday night. Xabi Alonso has a new injury concern to worry about ahead of his side’s latest fixture, with the injury crisis in the defensive unit worsening this week.

Dean Huijsen is the latest absentee after picking up a calf injury during the international break. The Spanish international has joined Trent Alexander-Arnold, Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rudiger, and Ferland Mendy in the treatment room. While Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal have resumed training, they are not in the travelling squad to take on Getafe.

However, there is some good news, as Franco Mastantuono and Kylian Mbappe are fit and available after recovering from the knocks they sustained during the international break. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Alonso discussed the issues facing Huijsen, Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham.

The Real Madrid manager said, “All the guys who went away with their national teams, with the exception of Huijsen, who had to drop out, have come back in good shape. Some had shorter trips, others a bit longer, but they’re all good and have been able to train.”

“Getafe is always a tough away trip, they’re a really competitive side, with a coach who knows how to get the best out of his team and he sets them up well. It’s always a difficult game when you go there. His [Mbappe] ankle is fine, he’ll be in the squad and could start tomorrow.”

Discussing Bellingham’s progress, the Real Madrid boss said, “He’s been training for a while and he’s getting fit again as he recovers from his shoulder injury. He’s better now and we’re going to need the best of Bellingham. He’s eager to feel good again, to get back to enjoying his football and helping the team on the pitch, to show what a wonderful player he is.”

Bellingham should return to the starting lineup, joining Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler in the middle of the park. Mbappe and Mastantuono should also be fit and ready to start against Getafe, lining up alongside Vinicius Junior in the final third.

Meanwhile, Thibaut Courtois is an automatic pick between the sticks, with the away side lining up in a 4-3-3 formation in front of him. Finally, the backline should feature Federico Valverde, Eder Militao, Raul Asencio, and Alvaro Carreras, with Valverde playing as a makeshift right-back again until Alexander-Arnold and Carvajal are ready to return.

Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Militao, Asencio, Carreras; Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Mastantuono, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior