Dean Huijsen and Arda Guler will return to the Real Madrid starting lineup when they take on Deportivo Alaves at the Mendizorrotza Stadium on Sunday.

Real Madrid will be eager to return to winning ways and keep pace with Barcelona atop La Liga when they lock horns with Deportivo Alaves at the Mendizorrotza Stadium on Sunday night. Xabi Alonso has received a mixed bag of updates on the team news front ahead of his side’s latest fixture.

Endrick, Fran Garcia and Alvaro Carreras will serve suspensions after being sent off against Celta Vigo last weekend. However, Dean Huijsen and Kylian Mbappe are fit and available after recovering from their knee issues, with Alonso including them in the travelling squad.

So, Dani Carvajal, Ferland Mendy, Trent Alexander-Arnold, David Alaba, Eder Militao, and Eduardo Camavinga are the only players remaining in the treatment room. Meanwhile, during his pre-match press conference, Alonso provided a brief fitness update on Mbappe while confirming the several absentees.

The Real Madrid manager said, “We got Kylian back. He’s fit to play, and tomorrow we’ll see and decide. It’s good news, obviously. We have enough strength and squad despite the unavailable players. Eleven players will be out there to give their all.”

“I’m sure that the desire, attitude and commitment will be there to try to win the game. It’s an important game, and the eleven who go out there will give their best. There are no other absentees with respect to Manchester City.”

“We have Kylian back, but we have three suspended players, and that’s part of the game. We don’t have many players, and we will complete the squad with players from Castilla, who always bring quality to training and are ready if they are needed. Tomorrow we’ll go with those who are on form enough to help us in Vitoria.”

Thibaut Courtois is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Real Madrid lining up in a 4-3-1-2 formation in front of him against Deportivo Alaves on Sunday. The backline will feature Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, Dean Huijsen, and Raul Asencio. Valverde and Asencio will start as the makeshift full-backs.

As for the midfield unit, Arda Guler will line up alongside Aurelien Tchouameni and Dani Ceballos in the middle of the park, while Jude Bellingham will reprise the no. 10 role. Finally, Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo will pair up in the offensive third. So, Mbappe, Franco Mastantuono, and Brahim Diaz will be backup options on the bench.

Predicted Real Madrid XI: Courtois; Valverde, Rudiger, Huijsen, Asencio; Guler, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Bellingham; Rodrygo, Vinicius Junior