Real Madrid will be looking to carry their superb La Liga form into their UEFA Champions League kickoff against Marseille on September 16.
Under Xabi Alonso, Los Blancos have won all four of their league games so far in 2025/26, but the UCL remains a huge objective for the club.
Real Madrid remain the benchmark in Europe's top competition with 15 titles won across the old European Cup and the modern UCL.
However, they struggled last season, as Carlo Ancelotti's side bowed out in the quarterfinals at the hands of Arsenal.
Alonso has overseen several squad changes in his first few months in charge back in Madrid with Trent Alexander-Arnold his first signing at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
However. the England international has endured a mixed start, with returning captain Dani Carvajal edging back ahead of him as first-choice right-back.
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Carvajal and Trent have started two games each so far, with the former starting the two away games, and Trent in place in Madrid.
Neither has completed 90 minutes, replacing the other, but Carvajal has the slight edge on minutes played with 209 compared to 151 and Alonso has hinted at his skipper remaining in place against Marseille.
"Since he arrived from Leverkusen, he's been so important. He gives us so much, and we've won many Champions Leagues with him," as per Marca.
"His influence, maturity, captaincy, the respect he has, and his responsibility to the group has evolved. Now that he's fit and well enough to play, he has a very important positive influence on the squad.
"These leaders who need to flourish are fundamental. We need this powerful core to pull the rest of the squad along. Carvajal has embraced that."
Another setback will be a blow for Trent who made the bold call to leave Liverpool after two decades at his boyhood club in June.
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