Real Madrid will begin their bid to regain the La Liga title with a home game against Osasuna on Tuesday night.
Los Blancos finished second in last season’s Spanish top-flight, placing four points behind bitter rivals Barcelona.
In fact, Real Madrid ended last season without silverware for the first time since way back 2009-10.
A trophyless campaign saw the club call time on Carlo Ancelotti’s tenure in the Spanish capital, with Xabi Alonso chosen to usher in a new era at the Santiago Bernabeu.
As for Osasuna, they will be looking to replicate last season’s efforts after exceeding expectations with a 9th-placed finish.
Like Real Madrid, the Pamplona outfit will also be under new management this season, with Alessio Lisci replacing Vicente Moreno earlier this summer.
Real Madrid will kick off the 2025–26 season without one of their best players, Jude Bellingham. The England international underwent shoulder surgery following the Club World Cup and is not expected to return to action until October.
The injured Ferland Mendy, Eduardo Camavinga and Endrick join Bellingham on the sidelines, as does the suspended Antonio Rüdiger. The center back must serve the final game of his six-match ban for throwing ice at referee Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea in the Copa del Rey final.
Expect Éder Militão to take Rüdiger’s place next to Dean Huijsen in Los Blancos’ new and improved backline that is also set to feature Trent Alexander-Arnold and Álvaro Carreras.
Predicted line-ups
Jude Bellingham is expected to be out until the end of October after undergoing shoulder surgery while defender Antonio Rudiger will miss out here due to suspension.
Meanwhile, Osasuna have no fresh injury concerns, with Iker Benito and Ruben Garcia the only two reported absentees for the visitors.
Real Madrid: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Militao, Huijsen, Garcia; Diaz, Tchouameni, Ceballos; Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius Junior.
Osasuna: Herrera; Rosier, Catena, Boyomo, Bretones; Torro, Moncayola, Oroz; Barja, Budimir, Gomez.
