Mou weighs new Real Madrid front three against Sevilla without Vinicius

Real Madrid face Sevilla tonight in their first match without Vinicius Junior following his four-game suspension, and the feeling around the team is that the attack could be about to change. The comeback against Atalanta in Rome sent a clear message: the squad players are knocking on the door and Mou is seriously considering rewarding Endrick and Diomande with a place in the starting lineup. The stakes go beyond the starting XI, because another slip would make next week's trip to the Camp Nou even more difficult.

• Real Madrid play their first game without Vinicius, who is suspended for four matches.
• Endrick impressed in Rome and has a strong chance of starting on the right wing against Sevilla.
• Diomande could keep his place on the left, with Mbappé fixed up front.
• Bellingham or Güler may drop deeper to give the midfield more fluidity.
• Sevilla welcome back Lucas Stassin but lose Kochorashvili to a soleus overload.

The new Real Madrid front three gaining momentum after the Rome comeback

The option that has grown the most in recent hours is the one few expected before the Champions League match. Endrick's emergence in Italy was colossal and Mou is now weighing whether to use him again on the right wing after the damage he caused to Gasperini's side. It would not be a panic move: his mobility and directness fit the team's need for a more vertical attack.

With Mbappé untouchable up front, Diomande would remain on the left, the flank where he also did the most damage last Tuesday. That would push Bellingham slightly deeper, since the front three most used by the Portuguese coach this season would change almost completely. The feeling is that Rome has opened a door that is no longer easy to close.

Güler, Bellingham and the engine room: Mou's remaining doubts

Mou has more alternatives on the table. Güler came on in the second half and showed that leaving him on the bench feels like a waste. He can play higher up to cover Vinicius' absence or slot in alongside Tchouaméni and Valverde in midfield. The match in Rome has created doubts even in an area that seemed settled.

Touching the engine room is also under consideration. The plan would be to drop one of the two holding midfielders, more likely Tchouaméni than Valverde, to add fluency in possession. Bellingham or Güler can help in that area if the entire attacking trident changes apart from Kylian. At the back, Huijsen is expected to return after serving his one-match suspension.

The players who came on in the second half deserve to play, but so do the ones who started. Diomande and Mbappé earned their place.

What Real Madrid have on the line against Sevilla before El Clásico

Real Madrid are already at an unfavorable distance heading into the Clásico at the Camp Nou, and next week's match is circled in red. A slip tonight against Sevilla would leave the league title race looking extremely uphill in October. The team cannot afford to lose more ground in a season that has become a race against the calendar.

The clash with Sevilla is no ordinary fixture. It is the last test before facing Barcelona and Mou knows it. That is why tonight's decisions are not only about taking three points: they are also about finding a recognizable, solid and reliable version of the team for a stretch of the season that could define their future.

Lucas Stassin returns and Kochorashvili drops out of the Sevilla squad

The big news for Sevilla is the return of Lucas Stassin. The Belgian forward is available again after overcoming the physical problems that had kept him out since the match against Deportivo at Riazor. His comeback is seen as a key boost for the Sevilla attack in a demanding setting like the Bernabéu.

Homegrown players Nico Guillén, Jesús Cruz and Rafa Romero complete the squad list, while Fábio Cardoso is included once more. On the injury front, the main late change involves Giorgi Kochorashvili. The Georgian international is not traveling as a precaution due to a mild overload in his left soleus after the effort against Levante.

Isaac Romero is also out after his sending-off at the Ciutat de València, along with injured players Jon Guridi, Marcao, Iker Muñoz and Miguel Sierra. A depleted Sevilla side will need to multiply their efforts to stop a Real Madrid team lifted by their European night.