MADRID, SPAIN — Real Madrid now find themselves in a must-win situation as they try to salvage their La Liga title hopes with a home match against Mallorca on Wednesday.
With Brazil announcing on Monday that Carlo Ancelotti will be taking over the national team at the end of the season, and an exorbitant injury list that continues to deepen, Los Blancos are in a dire position.
Sitting second, seven points back of leaders Barcelona who they just lost to on Sunday in another thrilling Clasico, anything less than three points would hand their rivals the title. A Madrid defeat or draw would confirm Barca as champions as they have a superior head-to-head record over Ancelotti’s team.
Mallorca, meanwhile, have had a bright season that sees the small top-flight club sitting ninth in the standings. The islanders are well in the mix for a European place and would be thrilled to get any points off a struggling Madrid to aid in the charge.
While on location in Madrid for this critical La Liga match, The Sporting News runs through the latest team news and injury updates for both sides.
Real Madrid training this morning. No Vinicius Jr. who injured his ankle in the late stages of El Clasico on Sunday. He’s reportedly set to miss the final three games of Real Madrid’s league season.
Means he could be a doubt for Carlo Ancelotti’s Brazil debut in early June too. pic.twitter.com/yeR5MBl6wb
— Kyle Bonn (@the_bonnfire) May 13, 2025
Real Madrid vs. Mallorca lineups, predicted starting 11, team news
An ankle injury to Vinicius Jr. late in the weekend’s Clasico has upended his disappointing season, and he is likely out for the final three matches of the campaign. Additionally, Lucas Vazquez is struggling with a thigh injury, and Aurelien Tchouameni picked up a yellow-card suspension and will miss out, leaving Real Madrid even thinner at the back.
With Eder Militao, Antonio Rudiger, and David Alaba all out injured, it means the only option left to Ancelotti may be to start Jesus Vallejo alongside Raul Asencio at center-back.
For all the Madrid absences, Ancelotti whiffed on just about every single lineup decision in Sunday’s Clasico defeat to Barcelona, and he could ring the changes against Mallorca. Dani Ceballos and Arda Guler were both hooked at halftime, with Luka Modric and Brahim Diaz coming on for the second half and having an effect.
Ancelotti left Rodrygo to rot on the bench for El Clasico, preferring to use Endrick as a second-half substitute, and then Rodrygo went off injured in pre-match training, leaving his status for the match in doubt from a fitness perspective, if it wasn’t already from a tactical point of view.
Real Madrid predicted lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Courtois (GK) — Valverde, Vallejo, Asencio, F. Garcia — Bellingham, Modric — Guler, B. Diaz, Mbappe — Endrick
Injured: Rodrygo (hamstring, doubt), Vinicius Jr. (ankle), L. Vazquez (thigh), Militao (ACL), Rudiger, (knee), Alaba (knee), Carvajal (ACL)
Suspended: Tchouameni (yellow-card accumulation)
MORE: All the latest Real Madrid news | Latest La Liga top goal scorer list | Latest Champions League top goal scorer list
Contrary to Real Madrid’s injury plight, the only major absentees for Mallorca in this match are midfielders Robert Navarro and Manu Morlanes who both have hamstring issues to deal with.
Otherwise, the biggest decision for head coach Jagoba Arrasate to make is who to start at striker, either leading scorer Vedat Muriqi or Canada international Cyle Larin. After starting four straight matches, Larin came off the bench against Real Valladolid to log 23 minutes in place of starter Muriqi.
Mallorca predicted lineup (4-2-3-1, right to left): Greif (GK) — Maffeo, Valjent, Raillo, Mojica — Mascarell, Samu — Asano, D. Rodriguez, Darder — Muriqi
Injured: Navarro (hamstring), Morlanes (hamstring), Prats (foot)
Suspended: None
Real Madrid vs. Mallorca live stream, TV channel
Here’s how to watch this La Liga match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:
