Real Madrid hosts Sevilla in crucial LaLiga clash without Vinicius

Real Madrid faces Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, October 18, at 21:00 CEST, with the team sitting fourth in LaLiga and missing star forward Vinicius Jr. due to a four-match suspension. The Brazilian was punished for grabbing an opponent by the hair and aggressively protesting to the referee, and will also miss the Clásico against Barcelona on October 25 Source: ABC.

Team news and absentees

José Mourinho will have to adjust his attack without Vinicius, with Diomande or Endrick as alternatives alongside Mbappé Source: ABC. Defender Huijsen returns from suspension Source: ABC. The only other absentees are Asencio (tibia fracture) and Rodrygo (recovering), both training alone Source: infobae. Sevilla, meanwhile, travels without Isaac Romero (suspended), Marcao, Guridi, and Miguel Sierra due to injury, but Lucas Stassin is available again Source: infobae.

Mourinho's outlook

Mourinho acknowledged player fatigue after the midweek Champions League comeback against Roma, but said: "Mañana es otro día y estaremos bien" (Tomorrow is another day and we will be fine) Source: elconfidencial. He praised Sevilla's coach Luis García Plaza and called the match "difícil, sin duda, pero queremos ganar" (difficult, no doubt, but we want to win) Source: elconfidencial.

Match context

Real Madrid won 1-0 against Villarreal last weekend and has a perfect home record this season, but trails leader Barcelona by six points Source: ABC. Sevilla sits four points behind Madrid and has performed well away from home, with two wins and two draws in four road games Source: ABC. The match will be broadcast on Movistar+ and Orange TV Source: ABC, El Confidencial.