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Real Madrid will host M\u00e1laga<\/a> at the Santiago Bernab\u00e9u on Sunday in their next La Liga<\/a> match.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Los Blancos arrive in excellent form, sitting near the top of the table after a flawless start to the domestic season under Jos\u00e9 Mourinho. They have taken the full six points from their first two games, showing strong attacking play. Madrid began the campaign with a hard-earned 2-1 win away at RCD Espanyol, then produced a dominant home performance last time out, beating Real Sociedad 4-1 thanks largely to a stunning hat-trick by star forward Kylian Mbapp\u00e9<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Real Madrid face a significant fitness problem ahead of the match, with manager Jos\u00e9 Mourinho dealing with seven confirmed first-team absences.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Several key players missed the final group training sessions at Valdebebas. Defensive options are particularly thin: \u00c9der Milit\u00e3o is sidelined by a hamstring injury, Ferland Mendy is out with a hip issue, and youngster Ra\u00fal Asencio is nursing a shin injury.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Midfield and attack are also hit, with Thiago Pitarch and winger Rodrygo both ruled out with knee injuries. The casualty list grew further after recent knocks kept Endrick and midfielder Aur\u00e9lien Tchouam\u00e9ni sidelined with muscle problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n To cope with the depleted squad during a busy schedule, Mourinho is expected to alter his starting lineup.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Marc Cucurella is set to make his first start at left-back ahead of \u00c1lvaro Carreras, and broader rotation could see Trent Alexander-Arnold and Brahim D\u00edaz handed their first starts of the season.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n