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Mourinho considers benching Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe against Villarreal

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 6, 2026, 8:40 AM

Last updated Oct 6, 2026

Mourinho considers benching Vinicius Jr. and Mbappe against Villarreal

Summary

Jose Mourinho is contemplating a significant lineup change for Real Madrid's La Liga match against Villarreal on October 7. Both Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe may start on the bench due to fitness concerns following their international duties. Vinicius is returning after a demanding schedule with Brazil, while Mbappe is managing a knee injury. Mourinho's decision aims to manage their workloads effectively ahead of a busy upcoming schedule that includes crucial matches against Roma, Sevilla, and Barcelona. The final call will depend on their training performance leading up to the match.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

By the Numbers

•Vinicius faces fatigue after international friendlies in Australia and India.
•Mbappe is recovering from a knee injury and has begun individual training.
•Real Madrid's next match is on October 7 against Villarreal.
•Post-Villarreal, Madrid plays Roma, Sevilla, and faces Barcelona on October 25.
•Mourinho will finalize selection based on training evaluations.

Latest Updates

8:40 AMYahoo Sports — Mourinho considering leaving superstar duo out of Real Madrid starting XI vs Villarreal – report

What they're saying

"
Jose Mourinho is considering a major selection decision ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga clash with Villarreal, with Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe potentially starting on the bench together for the f...
— Yahoo Sports

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