Mallorca vs. Real Madrid: Predicted XI for Alvaro Arbeloa's side including Federico Valverde replacement and Vinicius Junior decision

Real Madrid attacker Vinicius Junior is expected to start on the bench against Mallorca on Saturday, as Los Blancos take a cautious approach to a slight muscular issue for the Brazilian.

Vinicius is not technically injured but is said to have reported pain in his thigh during the March international break, so a start against Mallorca in Saturday's La Liga clash is seen as unlikely.

Federico Valverde (suspended), Dani Ceballos (calf), Rodrygo (knee) and Thibaut Courtois (thigh) are definitely unavailable for selection this weekend.

Meanwhile, Ferland Mendy (hamstring), Raul Asencio (muscle) and Eder Militao (hamstring) need to be assessed before final decisions can be made.

Jude Bellingham is also being protected, having only just returned from injury, and the expectation is that the England international will also be among the substitutes at the start of the match.

As a result, there could be starts for Thiago Pitarch and Eduardo Camavinga in the middle of midfield alongside Aurelien Tchouameni, with Valverde out through suspension.

Brahim Diaz, meanwhile, is likely to be given the nod in the final third of the field alongside Kylian Mbappe, with Gonzalo Garcia expected to be on the bench.

Real Madrid possible starting lineup:

Lunin; Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Huijsen, Carreras; Pitarch, Tchouameni, Camavinga; Guler; Diaz, Mbappe