Real Madrid face Malaga in the third match of their La Liga campaign at the Bernabeu on Sunday, with the chance to claim nine points out of nine and remain top-adjacent in the table.
Malaga, who achieved promotion from the Segunda Division earlier this year, will play at the Bernabeu for the first time since 2017, when they were last in the league.
It will be interesting to see what kind of team Jose Mourinho fills out on Sunday, with the absentees remaining the same as they were last week.
Here is Real Madrid's predicted lineup for the third match of the season.
Real Madrid predicted starting 11 as Trent Alexander-Arnold hopes for starting berth vs Malaga
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois will retain his position between the sticks after a decent start to the season. He would do so either way, as he is the best goalkeeper in the world.
RB Trent Alexander-Arnold
Trent will hope to finally make his first start of the season. Denzel Dumfries has started in his place for both matches of the season, but it does not seem like that will continue. Dumfries is a good defender, but it may be that Mourinho prefers to have him when there isn't a pure right-winger on that side to provide the width. Despite that, Trent has looked good in all of his minutes so far, and he should get a start on Sunday.
CB Ibrahima Konate
Konate's best seasons were those when he used to play as a right sided central defener, covering for Trent. That will return on Sunday, and will hopefully improve the Frenchman's form, which has already looked really good in the two games he has played.
CB Dean Huijsen
Dean Huijsen looks like a brand new signing because he looks unbelievably good. He has played some good football, and that should be enough for him to remain a starter against Malaga.
LB Marc Cucurella
This is not a prediction; Mourinho confirmed in his press conference that Cucurella will start the game against Malaga, which would have been the expectation either way.
DM Bernardo Silva
Silva has looked quite good to start the season, and is already becoming the glue of this Real Madrid side. Expect his run in the first XI to continue for the foreseeable future.
DM Fede Valverde
A good performance from the Uruguayan on Wednesday, and until Aurelien Tchouameni comes back, his position should be secured - and maybe even after.
RW Arda Guler
Guler will continue his brilliant form as a starter, despite Trent starting at right-back. I know this messes up my theory, but Mourinho might think that against Malaga, who will presumably play a deep, low block, it is better if Real Madrid's two best passers start the match.
AM Jude Bellingham
Bellingham has been incredible for Real Madrid, and if he already isn't the first player on the XI, he should be.
LW Vinicius Junior
Vinicius Junior played well in his last Real Madrid game, and he will take his position on the left once again.
CF Kylian Mbappe
The hat-trick hero is an automatic starter, the game against Malaga won't be any different. Goals incoming.
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