The main storyline for Madrid is Bellingham’s absence from the starting lineup. The English midfielder recently recovered from a semitendinosus muscle injury in his left leg, a setback that kept him out for several weeks and affected his match rhythm. Although he has already returned to action, the coaching staff, led by Alvaro Arbeloa, chose not to start him as they continue managing his workload carefully.

Bellingham’s absence from the initial lineup adds to a list of significant early-season challenges for Real Madrid. Thibaut Courtois is not playing against Bayern today either, as the goalkeeper continues his recovery from injury.

The German club arrive in strong form and aim to take a positive result back to Germany in this Bayern Munich vs Real Madrid clash, while Madrid look to control the first leg despite missing key players.

Real Madrid confirmed lineup vs Bayern Munich

Real Madrid will start with a group built around stability, ball progression, and pace in attack: Lunin; Trent, Rudiger, Huijsen, A. Carreras; Valverde, Thiago, Tchouameni; Arda Guler, Mbappe, and Vinicius Jr.

Bayern Munich confirmed lineup vs Real Madrid

Bayern Munich line up with a group built around experience, physicality, and vertical attacking play: Neuer, Upamecano, Tah, Kimmich, Stanisic; Laimer, Pavlovic; Gnabry, Olise, Luis Diaz; Kane.

Per a Marca report, Alexander-Arnold was benched by manager Alvaro Arbeloa as a punishment for being late to a training session. Arbeloa wants discipline on the squad and now, this has sent TAA to the bench. Follow Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid live with us and catch all the action from the game!

As for Bellingham and Mbappe, they’re recovering from injuries and Arbeloa is limiting their playing time to not risk re-injuring them. Mbappe is managing a persistent left knee injury (ligament inflammation/sprain), while Bellingham is coming from a six-week absence due to a hamstring injury.

When was the last time Mbappe and Bellingham played?

Mbappe logged in some minutes mid-week in the Champions League during the game against Manchester City. He played around 20 minutes. It’s likely he will play around the same amount of minutes today.

As for Bellingham, this would be his first game since February 1st. Both Bellingham and Mbappe are crucial players for Real Madrid, but they’ll have to wait for their opportunity to play from the bench.

Alexander-Arnold’s situation is far more complicated

Alexander-Arnold is flat out facing a disciplinary action. His first season in Madrid has been quite underwhelming. Now, he is not starting a key game against bitter rivals Atletico, who will also deal with a huge absence of their own as Jan Oblak isn’t playing today either.

Arnold has struggled to stay healthy and, when playing, he’s been very inconsistent. In fact, Thomas Tuchel left him out of England’s squad for the upcoming friendlies, less than a 100 days from the World Cup.

Bellingham is the most creative player on the Real Madrid squad. However, a leg injury sidelined him for Real Madrid against Benfica today, which you can follow live with us. The British midfielder hasn’t played since getting injured on February 1st against Rayo Vallecano.

According to Goal, the injury might be even worst than initially feared. Initially, it was stated that Bellingham could lose five weeks of action. Hence, Bellingham will also lose the second leg.

Benfica have their own share of problems

While Benfica‘s attack is pretty much at full strength, Jose Mourinho won’t have Fredrik Aursnes in midfield. That is a key absence on the midfield. There are other names that might be catalogued as game-time decisions like Alexander Bah (knee), Samuel Soares (muscle strain), and Joao Veloso (shoulder).

What’s positive for Benfica is that Norwegian Andreas Schjelderup and Greek Vangelis Pavlidis will line up at the front. Schjelderup scored a brace against Real Madrid on January 28.

Jose Mourinho might be auditioning for a Real Madrid return

It’s no secret that Jose Mourinho managed Madrid more than a decade ago, but also how Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez is very fond of the Portuguese. Also, quite a large portion of the fanbase has always dreamt with a reunion with Mourinho.

Given that not many are Arbeloa fans, if Mourinho impresses, the fact is Florentino Pérez might want to bring back one of the most mediatic managers Real Madrid have had. Real Madrid are always held to the highest standard and Mourinho is too.

Though Bellingham has been battling injuries for a while in the season, he was fully healthy to play for his national team against Serbia at Wembley Stadium. However, the coaching staff opted to go a different route.

As reported by The Athletic’s David Ornstein, England national team coach Thomas Tuchel has decided to keep Morgan Rogers in the lineup, with the Aston Villa midfielder set to play in the No. 10 role.

England’s team to host Serbia

England takes on Serbia at home in London for the second-to-last game of the UEFA 2026 World Cup Qualifiers. Aside from Rogers’ inclusion in the starting lineup, the rest of the team holds few surprises, with most of The Three Lions’ household names set to be on the pitch from kick-off.

England comes out with a 4-2-3-1 design. Jordan Pickford will be in net. Reese James will be at right-back, with John Stones and Ezri Konsa as centrebacks, and Nico O’Reilly in the left side of the defense. At midfield, Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice will split the duties. Ahead of them, a three-headed monster with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Morgan Rogers, and Marcus Rashford takes over. The cherry on top is none other than striker Harry Kane. Phil Foden will join Jude Bellingham on the bench.

Serbia’s lineup

As for the Serbian side, they will be tasked with a monstrous order to try and take down the English side in front of their fans. Serbia must win, and hope for Albania not to do likewise, in order to get ahold of the final ticket to the playoff round for the FIFA 2026 World Cup. The following will be playing for Serbia.

Serbia will come out on a 4-5-1 look. Predrag Rajkovic will start in goal for Serbia. Four defenders will be tasked with keeping England’s attacking threats in check: Aleksa Terzic, Strahinja Pavlovic, Nikola Milenkovic, and Ognjen Mimovic. In midfield, Filip Kostic, Sasa Lukic, Nemanja Gudelj, Ivan Ilic, and Andrija Zivkovic will look to control possession, while Dusan Vlahovic will lead the line as the lone striker. In Juventus’ star lies Serbia’s joker card, and their hopes of making the World Cup.

All the eyes at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu were fixed on Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old spoke during the week coming into the game, and the home fans in Madrid didn’t let that go. Neither did Real Madrid players, who went after Yamal after the game. Bellingham was among them, and he issued a blunt reminder through his social media after the final whistle.

“Talk is cheap,” Jude Bellingham wrote on an Instagram post after the 2-1 victory in ‘El Clasico’. “Hala Madrid always.” In case the message wasn’t obvious enough, Bellingham added Elvis Presley’s A Little Less Conversation tune to the post.

Background

Coming into the heated showdown, Yamal dropped several comments that made waves all across the soccer landscape. Real Madrid weren’t exempt to the noise coming out of Barcelona’s star teenager.

In the days leading up to his visit to the Bernabeu with Barcelona, Yamal downplayed the iconic venue, claiming it wasn’t as hostile an environment as many believe. He referenced his previous outing in Madrid, when he scored a beautiful goal and Barcelona routed Real Madrid 4–0. This time around, however, ‘La Casa Blanca’ made sure to avenge that loss—and to teach the young superstar a lesson.

Bellin-goal

Much has been said about Bellingham’s performances for Real Madrid on the biggest stages. After a sensational start to his career in Spain, the English midfielder hadn’t been as lethal for the ‘Merengues’ in recent months. However, he put all doubts to rest with a brilliant outing against Barcelona.

Bellingham scored the game-winning goal in ‘El Clasico’ for the third time in his career. The Stourbridge native continues to be Barcelona’s reaper—and he made sure to remind Yamal and everyone in Catalonia of it after the win.

Barcelona responded with an early goal from Fermin Lopez, keeping the contest competitive, but Real Madrid’s explosive counterattacks and clinical finishing proved too much for the visitors. Both teams created chances, but the Merengues were more efficient in front of goal, showcasing their offensive firepower and resilience.

The victory reinforces Real Madrid’s position in the league standings while Barcelona will look to regroup after the defeat. Fans were treated to a memorable Clasico with standout performances from Mbappe and Bellingham, plus intense moments like Pedri’s late red card that added drama to the final minutes.

The reason behind the Englishman’s absence from the starting eleven appears to be a tactical decision by manager Xabi Alonso, since the Spaniard had included Bellingham in the lineup when Real Madrid lost to Atletico Madrid in the derby on Saturday.

The former Borussia Dortmund star was subbed off for Rodrygo 70 minutes into the match, which represented his first start since undergoing shoulder surgery in July. Even though he’s still rediscovering his best form, Bellingham’s presence on the bench in today’s Champions League clash has more to do with a tactical choice rather than fitness issues.

Real Madrid’s lineup vs Kairat today

Bellingham isn’t the only notable absentee in Real Madrid’s lineup though. Joining him on the bench is Federico Valverde, with Alonso opting to start Raul Asencio in Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal’s absence against Kairat today.

Real Madrid’s lineup vs Kairat: Thibaut Courtois; Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, David Alaba, Fran Garcia; Dani Ceballos, Aurelien Tchouameni; Franco Mastantuono, Arda Guler, Vinicius Junior; Kylian Mbappe.

In a turn of events, this year promises an unprecedented winner, as per multiple reports. The players rumored to grace the podium include the emerging talent Lamine Yamal, and Paris Saint-Germain stars Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha, fresh off a Champions League victory.

Mbappe was anticipated to secure a spot in the top ten of this prestigious list, thanks to his remarkable goal-scoring feats. His teammate Vinicius Jr., who finished in second place last year, finds himself placed 16th this time around.

The evening also promises to spotlight the best talents in women’s soccer, with strong contenders like Aitana Bonmati and Alexia Putellas from FC Barcelona, alongside Arsenal’s Alessia Russo, vying for top honors.

Why are Mbappe, Vinicius, and other Real Madrid stars skipping the 2025 Ballon d’Or?

Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and other stars from Real Madrid are absent from the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony as the players are focused on the upcoming La Liga match against Levante, scheduled for Tuesday.

However, there is a rumor about last year’s edition in which Vinicius was considered a strong contender for the award, yet Manchester City’s Rodri ultimately took home the honor. According to a report from BeIN, Real Madrid did not agree with the voting format, which led to the absence of Vini, Bellingham, and their teammates from last year’s awards ceremony.

In this year’s edition, it’s evident that the Real Madrid players nominated in the final list of the Ballon d’Or do not appear to be the favorites to win the prestigious award. Considering the upcoming matchup, it seems more rational to focus on current performances rather than dwell on last year’s rumors concerning Vini.

The quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 are coming to a close. After PSG secured a win over Bayern Munich, it’s now time for Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid to battle for a spot in the semifinals against the French club.

When the knockout bracket was revealed, fans immediately highlighted the Borussia Dortmund vs. Real Madrid matchup as a potential Bellingham brothers showdown. However, Jobe won’t be taking part in the game against his older brother.

Why is Jobe Bellingham not playing today for Borussia Dortmund?

Jobe Bellingham is following in his brother’s footsteps. He joined Borussia Dortmund this year and is already viewed as a promising midfielder, much like Jude during his time in Germany.

When his signing with Dortmund was announced, fans hoped for a dream scenario in which both brothers would face each other at the FIFA Club World Cup. The draw made it possible, but unfortunately, fate stepped in.

During the Round of 16 clash against Monterrey, Jobe Bellingham picked up his second yellow card of the tournament. According to competition rules, a player who accumulates two yellows in different matches is automatically suspended for the next game.

Jobe admitted he wasn’t fully aware of this regulation and would have been more careful had he known. Sadly, the highly anticipated Bellingham vs. Bellingham duel will have to wait—perhaps until a future friendly or a UEFA Champions League showdown.

Jobe Bellingham, the 19-year-old English midfielder, joined Borussia Dortmund on June 10, 2025, just in time to debut at the FIFA Club World Cup. It took him only two official appearances to make his mark with a goal. In contrast, his brother Jude Bellingham scored his first goal for Dortmund in his debut with the team, precisely in a German Cup match against MSV Duisburg.

Jude and Jobe share a similar playing profile, which is why comparisons between them continue to surface. Despite starting out as a playmaking interior midfielder, Jude evolved into a complete player with a strong attacking focus. That development reflects many of the same traits found in his younger brother.

Unlike his brother Jude, Jobe Bellingham has opted not to wear the family surname on the back of his jersey since joining Sunderland. Following that move, former English club head coach Tony Mowbray addressed the decision at the time, saying, “I think he’s trying to forge his own identity. He doesn’t want to live at the expense of his brother’s last name, he wants to be the footballer (soccer player) he is and show people what he can do,” he said.

Borussia Dortmund star Julian Brandt reveals what surprised him most about Jobe Bellingham

Expectations for Jobe Bellingham soar, and it is not solely about his connection to Jude but also his impressive talent that shone brightly in England’s EFL Championship. Pressure and recent arrival to the team have not fazed him as head coach Niko Kovac trusts him fully, giving him important chances against Flamengo and Mamelodi Sundowns. His performances were praised by the German team star Julian Brandt who highlighted a crucial aspect of Jobe’s game.

“In terms of talent, he is a sensational boy. With a mentality that you know from your family… Physically, he’s already very robust because he’s already played in the second division in England,” Julian Brandt said, via BILD.

Despite his impressive talent and expectations, Jobe has a challenging road ahead as he aims to stand out at Borussia Dortmund. This task becomes even more complex considering the recent dominance of Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. However, his unique skill set could serve as a game-changer for the team. If Jobe showcases the same talent he displayed in England, he could significantly boost Dortmund’s competitive edge.

Although James Rodriguez did not leave Real Madrid on the best terms, he still shows strong feelings for the club. Now the captain of Colombia, James was interviewed by Edu Aguirre, who asked him to name the best player in the world. Instead of picking just one, James gave a ranking: Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior. However, he did not clarify whether this was a ranked list or just a selection with no particular order.

Despite Mohamed Salah‘s standout season at Liverpool, the Colombian star chose not to include him in his list. This season, the Egyptian forward has played 43 matches, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists, marking the best performance of his career.

Salah is now just one goal away from surpassing Sergio Aguero as the highest-scoring foreign player in Premier League history, with both players currently tied on 184 goals.

However, including Kylian Mbappe among the world’s best players is undoubtedly a success. Despite a slow start to the season, the French forward has seen a dramatic improvement in his form. In 43 appearances, he has netted 30 goals and provided 4 assists, playing a key role in Real Madrid’s advancement to the Champions League quarterfinals.

Are Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. worthy of being in the top three players this season?

While Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Jr. remain key figures in Real Madrid’s long-term vision, neither is currently enjoying their best season. Both players firmly established themselves among the elite in world soccer last year. Bellingham, in particular, had an outstanding debut season, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists in 43 appearances.

Jude Bellingham‘s standout performances last season earned him widespread recognition as one of the best players of the year. However, this season, his focus has shifted away from goal-scoring, leading to some inconsistency in his displays. As a result, he has faced criticism from certain sections of the Real Madrid fanbase.

Similarly, Vinicius Junior, who was among the world’s top players last season, is enduring a rough patch this year. Criticized by his own supporters, he has been overshadowed by Kylian Mbappe‘s stellar form.

James Rodriguez shares surprising words for Zinedine Zidane after Real Madrid stint

James Rodriguez’s departure from Real Madrid was largely due to Zinedine Zidane‘s limited use of him, fueling rumors of a strained relationship between the two. However, James surprised many with a candid confession: “Zidane has always been my idol. Sometimes he would go into training and he had more quality than all of us.”

James denied any negative experiences with Zidane, offering a more reflective view on their time together: “When Zidane arrived, the press generated a lot of morbidity. Nothing happened to me with him, I wasn’t angry with him as it was said, but he found a great team in which I didn’t fit. I played with him but in key games he didn’t use me, he used Kroos, Casemiro and Modric and that’s respectable.“