Kylian Mbappé will not play today against Albacete, in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey. The Frenchman is left out of the confirmed lineup of Real Madrid for this Wednesday’s duel (14), at Estádio Carlos Belmonte, at Albacete, Espanha. The match starts at 5pm (Brasília time), marking the debut of Álvaro Arbeloa as interim coach of the merengue club.
The Real Madrid opts for a strong rotation in the squad, preserving the striker after recent recovery from a knee injury and limited participation in the Supercopa of the Espanha. Mbappé, who scored in the previous phase of Copa del Rey, does not travel with the delegation and remains in Madrid for physical load management. The Merengue team seeks to move forward with an alternative formation, betting on youngsters and reserves to overcome the Segunda Divisão club.
Real Madrid confirmed lineup
Real Madrid enters the field in a 4-3-3 formation with Andriy Lunin in goal. The defense has David Jiménez on the right flank, Raúl Asencio and Dean Huijsen in defense, in addition to Fran García on the left.
In midfield, Federico Valverde leads as captain, accompanied by Jorge Cestero and Arda Güler. The attack has Franco Mastantuono on the right, Gonzalo García as a center forward and Vinicius Jr. on the left wing, forming the offensive trio responsible for creating the main plays.
Reason for absence of Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé appears among the main absences of Real Madrid. The player is recovering from a knee injury suffered previously and only participated for a few minutes in the Supercopa final against Barcelona.
The new trainer Álvaro Arbeloa decides to spare him to avoid the risk of relapse. The measure allows the Frenchman to gradually gain pace and be available for more important commitments in the coming weeks, such as LaLiga games and the Liga of the Campeões.
Albacete confirmed lineup
Albacete plays in a 4-4-2 formation with Raúl Lizoain protecting the goal. The defensive line includes Lorenzo Aguado, Javi Moreno, Carlos Neva and Diego Bernabeu.
The midfield brings together Aleix Meléndez, Álex Pacheco, Javi Villar and Capi to control the sector. In attack, Jaime Villar and Dani Escriche seek to explore spaces in quick transitions. Coach Alberto González Fernández maintains the formation that guaranteed classification in the previous phase.
Other important absences from Real Madrid
Real Madrid faces an extensive list of absences for this match. Além of Kylian Mbappé, players like Rodrygo, Jude Bellingham, Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Ferland Mendy,
The club calls for reinforcements from the base, including names like David Jiménez and Joan Martínez, to complete the squad. The strategy aims to preserve starters for the remainder of the season.
Where to watch live
The live broadcast on Brasil is exclusive to Disney+, a streaming service that broadcasts Copa from Rey. Subscribers access the game in real time.
The ge.globo portal offers minute-by-minute coverage with statistics, bids and updates. The local time in Albacete is 9 pm (Espanha time).
Stadium and referee details
Estádio Carlos Belmonte hosts the match with a capacity of approximately 17 thousand fans. Referee Victor Garcia Verdura whistles the match, with an average number of cards that suggests a physically contested game.
Albacete counts on the support of the fans at home to try to surprise. Real Madrid needs to impose technical quality despite the many changes in the team.
Expectations for the confrontation
Real Madrid bets on Vinicius Jr. as the main offensive weapon in the absence of Mbappé. The Brazilian’s speed can decide the duel against the opposing defense.
Albacete seeks to repeat its good previous qualifying campaign. The team is betting on defensive organization and counterattacks to make life difficult for the favorite.
Factors that may influence the result
Possession of the ball must remain with Real Madrid throughout the match. Creating chances depends on the performance of young players like Mastantuono and Güler.
Albacete’s defense needs to contain quick attacks on the wings. Goalkeeper Lunin plays an important role in keeping the score in favor of the visiting team.
