José Mourinho opted to leave Jude Bellingham and Bernardo Silva out of the starting XI for Real Madrid’s LaLiga Matchday 6 encounter with Elche at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, making several adjustments to his midfield and attacking setup.
The primary reason for the rotation appears to be strategic squad management, particularly with a pivotal fixture looming. Real Madrid are set to face city rivals Atlético Madrid in the highly anticipated Madrid derby this Sunday, September 20, which makes preserving key players essential.
Giving Bellingham a break is especially prudent given his extensive involvement this campaign. The England international has featured in each of Real Madrid’s five league matches thus far, contributing three goals and three assists. Resting him against a lower-tier opponent like Elche allows Mourinho to ensure his star midfielder is fully refreshed for the derby.
With Bellingham on the sidelines, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Yan Diomande stepped into the starting lineup, reflecting Mourinho’s willingness to rotate while maintaining competitive balance. Despite the changes, Real Madrid continue to perform strongly, currently sitting fourth in the league table with nine points.
In addition to the tactical omissions, Real Madrid were also without several long-term injured players. Defenders Eder Militão (hamstring) and Ferland Mendy (thigh), along with forward Rodrygo (knee), remained unavailable for selection.
Here is Mourinho’s confirmed starting XI for the match against Elche: Courtois; Alexander-Arnold, Koundé, Huijsen, Cucurella; Tchouaméni, Valverde; Arda Güler, Vinícius Júnior, Diomande; Mbappé.
