Real Madrid have confirmed their squad for Saturday’s La Liga trip against Rayo Vallecano, with the update landing on Friday, 18 September 2026. José Mourinho has named a 24-man group for the Matchday 5 fixture, and it includes a fresh face who has waited all season for this moment.
Raúl Asencio is back in first-team contention, while three players return from suspension after missing the midweek win over Inter Milan. Here is where things stand as Real Madrid look to build on that Champions League result.
## Updated Squad Status Ahead of Rayo Vallecano Clash
Mourinho confirmed his 24-man squad on Friday afternoon ahead of the trip to face Rayo Vallecano. The selection follows a mixed week for Los Blancos, who beat Inter Milan 2-1 in midweek after a league defeat at Real Betis in their previous outing.
Saturday’s game marks Matchday 5 of the La Liga season, and the squad list shows a club still managing fitness issues in defence while welcoming back several first-team regulars.
## Raúl Asencio Earns First Senior Call-Up of the Season
The headline inclusion is Raúl Asencio, who has been named in the Real Madrid squad for the first time this campaign. His return gives Mourinho another option at the back after a difficult run of central defensive absences.
No club statement has detailed why Asencio’s recall has come now, so supporters should treat his inclusion as a squad addition rather than confirmation of minutes on Saturday.
## Returns and Absences: Key Team News
Eduardo Camavinga, Bernardo Silva and Arda Güler are all back in the squad after serving suspensions that ruled them out of the Inter Milan match. Their return restores depth in midfield at a useful point in the fixture list.
Andriy Lunin has also returned to the squad. He missed the Champions League game through illness and comes back in as Thibaut Courtois’ deputy between the posts.
On the injury front, Rodrygo, Ferland Mendy and Éder Militão remain unavailable, according to Madrid Universal. None of the three has been given a firm return date in that reporting.
Away from team news, Mundo Deportivo has reported that Víctor García Verdura has been appointed by the Comité de Designación to referee the match. Rayo Vallecano head into the game with problems of their own: their coach, Beñat San José, described the squad as arriving “en cuadro”, pointing to a shortage of fit options for Saturday’s trip to Madrid.
## Real Madrid Squad vs Rayo Vallecano Confirmed Players
The Real Madrid squad vs Rayo Vallecano stands at 24 players, confirmed by Mourinho on Friday afternoon. Raúl Asencio’s inclusion is the standout change, alongside the returns of Camavinga, Bernardo Silva, Güler and Lunin detailed above.
Rodrygo, Mendy and Militão are the three absentees from that list, all sidelined through injury as reported by Madrid Universal. For the complete breakdown of names named on Friday, supporters can revisit our squad announcement against Rayo Vallecano.
## What Happens Next for Mourinho’s Side
Real Madrid now turn their attention to Saturday’s kick-off, with Víctor García Verdura in the middle and a Rayo Vallecano side that its own coach admits is stretched thin. A win would keep Mourinho’s team firmly in the early-season title conversation after a bruising week that mixed European joy with domestic disappointment.
Beyond the pitch, there is plenty still developing around this squad. Camavinga’s situation at the Bernabéu remains a talking point even with him back in the fold this weekend, and the club continues to plan its recruitment around LaLiga’s latest financial limits for the coming seasons.
For now, the focus stays on Saturday. Mourinho has the squad he wanted, Asencio has his chance to press his case, and Real Madrid will hope a settled group can turn fixture congestion into an advantage against a weakened Rayo Vallecano.
