Mourinho Picks Arda Güler for Real Madrid's Derby at Atletico

Arda Güler has been picked in the Real Madrid XI for the derby at Atletico Madrid, with Mbappe and Vinicius Junior ahead of him. Kick-off at the Metropolitano is at 17:15 Moscow time in the seventh round of La Liga.

Mourinho’s back four: Dumfries, Konate, Huijsen and Cucurella. Tchouameni and Valverde anchor the middle, with Bellingham pushed wide to accommodate Güler. Trent Alexander-Arnold, whom Sport-Express had in its projected XI, is among the substitutes, as are Diomande, Rudiger, Endrick, Bernardo Silva and Carreras.

Güler had been left out for the win over Rayo Vallecano on 13 September, when Mourinho went with a different midfield. That night Mbappe scored twice in a 4-1 victory. Güler joined in March 2024 with 16 goals. He arrived in January 2023 with five.

Atletico mirror the home side’s shape. Oblak, a back four of Grimaldo, Hancko, Romero and Pubill, and a midfield trio of Baena, Cardoso and Llorente. Lee Kang-in, two goals since August, operates on the right, with David up front.

Alvarez starts on the bench. A muscular issue sidelined him against Real Sociedad, but he passed fitness checks. Pablo Barrios is out injured.

Real are six points behind leaders Barcelona, who have played one game more. A win cuts the gap to three points.