Real Madrid News
Real Madrid megastar at suspension risk heading into Alaves clash
In their first match since being eliminated from the UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid face off against Deportivo Alaves later tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu in Matchday 32 of La Liga.
Already nine points behind leaders Barcelona, Los Blancos need a miracle in order to stand any chance of mounting a late push for the title.
However, there is still plenty left to play for, with futures of a number of players as well as manager Alvaro Arbeloa on the line.
Kylian Mbappe, meanwhile, will have his sights set on another Pichichi Trophy triumph as he currently leads the La Liga scoring charts.
Mbappe risking suspension
However, heading into tonight’s clash at the Bernabeu, the French superstar is at the risk of getting suspended.
Indeed, Mbappe is currently on four yellow cards in La Liga and another booking tonight would make it five, earning him an automatic one-match ban for accumulation of cards.
It would leave the 27-year-old attacker suspended for the league clash against Real Betis on Friday night.
That is something that both Mbappe and Real Madrid will be hoping to avoid, considering that a trip to Betis can always be tricky and Arbeloa will need his best players on the field.
Moreover, Mbappe is being chased by RCD Mallorca’s Vedat Muriqi in the Pichichi race, with the Kosovan striker only two goals behind the Real Madrid ace.
As such, the France national team captain will be hoping to keep his discipline and avoid facing a suspension in the final matchdays of the 2025/26 season.
In a season where Real Madrid have largely struggled to keep pace with leaders Barcelona, Arda Guler has been one of the few bright sparks.
Despite his limited minutes, the Turkish international has shown that he is capable of becoming a first-team regular for Los Blancos, especially at a time when others, including Vinicius Jr. are struggling to make an impact.
Guler was notably named in Real Madrid’s five-player star of the month for September and the player could soon be rewarded with a contract extension as well.
New contract for Arda Guler
According to AS, Guler has agreed terms for a new deal at Real Madrid, in what could be the club’s first major renewal for the new season.
The young Turk’s current deal at the Bernabeu expires in 2029. But the renewal will ensure his future at the club at least until 2031.
The new contract will effectively acknowledge Guler’s growing role in the Real Madrid first-team and include a salary-increase.
The negotiations between the two parties had started last month and has now come to fruition, with Guler more than happy to continue his chapter at Real Madrid.
He also joins a long list of Real Madrid players with long-term contracts, including Yan Diomande, Vinicius Jr., Marc Cucurella, Aurelien Tchouameni and others.
An important season ahead
With the contract likely to be finalised soon, Arda Guler’s main goal will be continue to his form when the season restarts next weekend.
The forward has been involved in four goals in seven matches this season. With Vinicius and Diomande struggling for form, the Turkish international will have an excellent opportunity to become a regular starter for Jose Mourinho throughout the course of the campaign.
Mourinho, for his part, must identify how to get the best out of both Guler and an in-form Jude Bellingham. If the two can somehow work together in the final third, Real Madrid could find themselves dominating most matches.
