Real Madrid vs. Mallorca lineups, predicted starting 11, team news, injuries: Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo injured
Real Madrid faces a crucial match against Mallorca, as anything less than a win could hand the La Liga title to Barcelona, who is currently leading the standings by seven points. The team is grappling with numerous injuries, including key players like Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and several defenders, which complicates their lineup choices. Carlo Ancelotti, set to become Brazil's national coach, must navigate these challenges and potentially change the lineup drastically after the recent defeat to Barcelona. Meanwhile, Mallorca is enjoying a successful season, sitting ninth and aiming for a European spot, with fewer injury concerns compared to Madrid. The match is pivotal for both teams, with Real Madrid needing a victory to keep their title hopes alive, while Mallorca seeks to capitalize on Madrid's struggles to bolster their own European ambitions.
Context:
Real Madrid faces a crucial match against Mallorca, as anything less than a win could hand the La Liga title to Barcelona, who is currently leading the standings by seven points. The team is grappling with numerous injuries, including key players like Vinicius Jr., Rodrygo, and several defenders, which complicates their lineup choices. Carlo Ancelotti, set to become Brazil's national coach, must navigate these challenges and potentially change the lineup drastically after the recent defeat to Barcelona. Meanwhile, Mallorca is enjoying a successful season, sitting ninth and aiming for a European spot, with fewer injury concerns compared to Madrid. The match is pivotal for both teams, with Real Madrid needing a victory to keep their title hopes alive, while Mallorca seeks to capitalize on Madrid's struggles to bolster their own European ambitions.
Dive Deeper:
Real Madrid is in a must-win scenario against Mallorca, trailing Barcelona by seven points in the La Liga title race, and a loss or draw would secure the title for Barcelona due to their superior head-to-head record.
Key players for Real Madrid, such as Vinicius Jr. and Rodrygo, are sidelined with injuries, alongside several defenders, leaving the team with limited options and forcing potential lineup changes by coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Carlo Ancelotti, who will take over as Brazil's national team coach after the season, faces criticism for his lineup decisions in the recent Clasico defeat to Barcelona and may need to make significant adjustments against Mallorca.
Mallorca, having a strong season with a current ninth-place standing, is aiming for a European competition spot and views the match against a depleted Real Madrid as an opportunity to gain crucial points.
The match is critical for Real Madrid's title ambitions, while Mallorca looks to exploit Madrid's injury woes to enhance their chances of European qualification, making it a high-stakes encounter for both teams.
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: NoneReal 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:TV channel Streaming USA ESPN Deportes Fubo USA, ESPN+ Canada — TSN+ UK Premier Sports 2 LaLigaTV, Premier Sports Player Australia beIN Sports 2 beIN Sports Connect India — FanCode