Eder Militao and Jude Bellingham will start for Real Madrid against Girona FC on Friday night, according to coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
Madrid head into the La Liga clash under pressure after back-to-back defeats, including a league loss to Mallorca and a narrow Champions League setback against Bayern Munich. With the title race tightening, Arbeloa has turned to two key players returning from injury to stabilise his side.
“Militao and Jude will be starters,” Arbeloa said. “Ferland Mendy will likely get some minutes.”
Both Militao and Bellingham have recently returned to action, featuring from the bench in recent matches. Their inclusion from the start signals a shift towards Madrid’s strongest available lineup as the stakes rise domestically and in Europe.
There was further encouragement with Ferland Mendy back in the squad after recovering from a hamstring problem, although he is expected to be eased back into action.
Madrid currently trail league leaders FC Barcelona by seven points, leaving little room for error. Arbeloa made it clear his focus is firmly on securing three points.
“We are eager to compete again at home, in front of our fans. We need not just the result, but a complete performance with determination,” he explained.
The Madrid boss also dismissed any thoughts of rotation despite the looming second leg in Munich.
“The most important match is always the next one,” he said. “We’re not in a position for experiments. We must deliver tomorrow first.”
Looking ahead to the decisive European clash, Arbeloa added: “Real Madrid has built its history on overcoming challenges like this. But Wednesday starts with what we do tomorrow.”
In terms of team news, Thibaut Courtois and Rodrygo remain unavailable through injury, while Franco Mastantuono is suspended.
With key players returning and pressure mounting, Madrid’s response against Girona could shape both their title hopes and their European ambitions.
