Real Madrid host Real Sociedad at the Bernabéu on Wednesday evening in a rearranged Matchday One fixture, and José Mourinho looks ready to send out two of his marquee summer arrivals from the opening whistle.
ONE reports that Marc Cucurella and Bernardo Silva are poised to be included in Real Madrid's starting lineup, alongside Arda Güler, giving both new signings their first competitive starts in white.
Cucurella completed a move from Chelsea in a deal worth around €60 million, signing until 2032, while Bernardo Silva arrived on a free transfer after running down his contract at Manchester City, agreeing a two-year deal to 2028. Both moves were pushed hard by Mourinho as he rebuilt the squad for his second spell in charge of the club.
Real Madrid's official squad list for the game named Cucurella, Bernardo and Güler among those called up, alongside Courtois, Lunin, Huijsen, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Konaté, Rüdiger, Dumfries, Bellingham, Camavinga, Valverde, Vinícius Júnior and Mbappé.
Previews of the expected XI, including from Managing Madrid and Yardbarker, project a lineup of Courtois; Dumfries, Konaté, Huijsen, Cucurella; Bernardo, Valverde; Güler, Bellingham, Vinícius; Mbappé — though the club has not yet confirmed the final starting eleven.
Kick-off is at 22:00 Israel time (21:00 CEST). The match was originally scheduled for the opening weekend of the season but was postponed after Real Madrid had several players involved deep into this summer's World Cup.
Mourinho is again working with a lengthy absentee list. Éder Militão, Rodrygo, Raúl Asencio, Ferland Mendy and Thiago Pitarch are all unavailable, Endrick is managing a muscular problem, and Aurélien Tchouaméni's fitness has been in doubt.
Real Madrid opened their league campaign with a 2-1 win away to Espanyol, sealed by a stoppage-time winner from debutant Carlos Espí, and go into Wednesday's game on a run of four straight victories and unbeaten in nine matches across competitions.
Real Sociedad, by contrast, lost 1-0 away to Real Betis in their opener on August 21, extending a poor run that saw them fail to win any of their last eight La Liga matches of last season. Their expected lineup includes Remiro in goal behind Aramburu, Zubeldia, Jon Martín and Sergio Gómez, with Take Kubo and captain Mikel Oyarzabal leading the attack alongside Barrenetxea.
History favours the hosts heavily: Real Madrid won 4-1 at the Bernabéu when the sides last met in February, and Real Sociedad have not won away against Madrid in La Liga since 2019.
