Real Madrid squad vs Sevilla: Fede Valverde out - Mbappé and Bellingham to shoulder the load

Real Madrid travel to Sevilla without Fede Valverde, a key right-sided stabilizer in and out of possession. His absence tilts responsibility toward Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham for chance creation and pressing triggers, while Aurélien Tchouaméni’s screening becomes vital. Selection questions emerge at left back with Fran Garcia in the frame, as fans debate balance and depth. Some anticipate a Mbappé outburst, others worry about control against Sevilla’s press. There is chatter about Endrick’s role and even confused mentions of Mastantuono, which do not reflect the current setup. The headline: Madrid lose their engine, and the margins get thinner.

The update lands ahead of a high-pressure La Liga trip to the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán, where Sevilla typically raise intensity at home. Matchday squad information indicates Fede Valverde is not included, forcing adjustments across Real Madrid’s right half-space and midfield press. Carlo Ancelotti’s side must recalibrate buildup and defensive coverage without their most reliable two-way midfielder.

🚨 SQUAD FOR SEVILLA. Fede Valverde is OUT.

@MadridXtra

Impact Analysis

Valverde’s absence is a structural hit more than a star-power loss. He stitches phases together on the right, links the fullback with midfield, and provides the first counterpress after Madrid lose the ball. Without him, Madrid usually face two issues: slower right-side progression and more exposure when the ball turns over. That cascades onto the back line, particularly if Dani Carvajal is asked to advance aggressively.

Expect Tchouaméni to stay deeper and wider to protect that channel, which narrows Bellingham’s roaming lane between the lines. Mbappé thrives on direct transitions and diagonal runs from the left into the box, but those moments depend on secure first and second passes. Valverde often supplies exactly that clean relay. In his absence, Luka Modric’s control or Federico-style running from a replacement becomes decisive.

Fran Garcia’s selection at left back adds another variable. If he starts, Madrid gain width and early crossing but risk space behind on counters. If Ferland Mendy starts, Madrid gain defensive stability but lose some thrust. Sevilla can target the right half-space behind Bellingham’s shoulder and in front of the right center back, especially off throw-ins and second balls. The model outlook shifts from Madrid controlling 55-60 percent of territory to a more even territorial split, increasing variance and the value of set pieces.

Reaction

Social chatter split fast. Some immediately recalibrated expectations, with one note of resignation: “It’s tough to see Valverde out; his contributions will definitely be missed in the match against Sevilla.” Others leaned into star power. Multiple posts predicted a Kylian Mbappé scoring burst, including a cheeky claim about chasing a Cristiano Ronaldo record and a bold “Mbappé hattrick and a Tchouaméni goal.”

There was tactical angst too. One frustrated voice worried that with no Valverde, Madrid would endure “90 minutes of Fran Garcia.” Another misfired entirely, complaining about “Mastantuono at RW” - a talking point that doesn’t match Madrid’s current squad reality. A separate thread said Valverde should rest up for the long term, hinting at caution over any knock. The humor came as usual, with jabs that “Alaba, Mendy and Camavinga will vanish again after today’s match.”

Net sentiment: Madrid fans accept the loss but cling to Mbappé and Bellingham as insurance. The minority worrying about control and transitions are closer to the tactical truth. The volume of confident scoreline predictions suggests belief in individual quality overriding structural gaps, at least against this version of Sevilla.

Social reactions

He needs to rest after his knock and prepare for 2026

youngg (@youngg380127)

I smell Mbappe hattrick and a Tchoumeni goal

Àgbà Men in White (@chisomamako)

Lots of players in this team who shouldn’t be here or should have left long time ago. The board has been a joke these past years

Real Madrid is no longer a serious club. (@kyle_rmcf)

Prediction

From a rival’s lens, this is the perfect opening. Strip Valverde out and Madrid’s right-side mechanisms wobble. Sevilla’s best path is simple: push numbers into the right half-space, crowd second balls, and bait Madrid into early wide deliveries. If Sevilla can force Madrid to recycle through center backs rather than find Bellingham between the lines on the first touch, the visitors’ tempo drops and turnovers creep in.

Mbappé will still generate a high xG shot or two - he always does. But Madrid’s transition integrity is not the same without Valverde’s engine and tidy outlets. I expect Sevilla to win more duels in the middle third than usual and create scrappy chances from cutbacks and set plays. If Tchouaméni is pinned as a permanent firefighter, Madrid lose one progressive step and Bellingham gets crowded by a boxy midfield.

Prediction: a cagey first half, Sevilla landing the first big chance. Madrid respond through Mbappé in space, but the game drifts into margins where one set piece or goalmouth scramble decides it. Edge Sevilla to nick a result or, at minimum, hold Madrid to a draw. The longer Valverde is out, the more opponents will circle this exact weakness.

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Conclusion

Madrid can usually survive missing one creator or one runner. Valverde is both, and that is the problem. He balances risk, closes lanes, and makes everyone ahead of him two percent safer and faster. Those two percents stack across 90 minutes and often separate a routine win from a sweaty finish. Sevilla have neither the form nor the depth of Madrid, but they do have a hostile venue and a simple plan that this particular absence invites.

The onus falls on Ancelotti’s selection and micro-adjustments. A conservative fullback profile, extra stability from Tchouaméni, and quicker central combinations to Bellingham can blunt the loss. One clean Mbappé moment still flips the script. But if Madrid enter a trading-match rhythm without Valverde’s counterpress and relay passing, the volatility spikes. In that world, Sevilla are live for points.

Short term, this is a stress test. Long term, it is a reminder of how irreplaceable Valverde’s hybrid role has become. If he is back soon, the noise dies down. If not, opponents will keep targeting the same seam until Madrid stitch it up.