{
  "id": 6963251,
  "title": "Confirmed: Real Madrid starting lineup against Rayo Vallecano – Diomande in",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/confirmed-real-madrid-starting-lineup-against-rayo-vallecano-diomande",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-12T17:50:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/confirmed-real-madrid-starting-lineup-175000290.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Real Madrid is set to face Rayo Vallecano in their fifth La Liga match of the 2026/27 season, with kickoff approaching. After losing their previous league game to Real Betis, the Merengues are eager to improve their record and narrow the gap with leaders Barcelona. Manager Jose Mourinho has revealed the starting lineup for the match, with the biggest news being that Yan Diomande, Real Madrid's €140 million summer signing from RB Leipzig, will make his first start for the club. Diomande replaces Brahim Diaz in the right flank position. Arda Guler is absent from the lineup due to suspension. Bernardo Silva returns to the double pivot alongside club captain Federico Valverde. Jude Bellingham continues in the attacking midfield, while Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. retain their places. Defensively, Antonio Rudiger and Alvaro Carreras replace Dean Huijsen and Marc Cucurella, respectively. The Real Madrid defense, led by Thibaut Courtois in goal, includes Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries.",
  "summary": "Real Madrid are all set to take on Rayo Vallecano in their fifth La Liga match of the 2026/27 season in a little over an hour at the Santiago Bernabeu.Having lost their previous league game to Real Be...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Rival watch: Atletico Madrid midfield ace a doubt for derby against Real Madrid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/rival-watch-atletico-madrid-midfield-ace-a-doubt-for-derby-against",
        "published": "2026-09-12T14:25:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Mbappe double helps Real Madrid thump Rayo Vallecano 4–1 in La Liga",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/12/mbappe-double-helps-real-madrid-thump-rayo-vallecano-4-1-in-la-liga",
        "published": "2026-09-12T23:43:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Mbappe at the double as Real Madrid sink Rayo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/mbappe-at-the-double-as-real-madrid-sink-rayo",
        "published": "2026-09-13T01:48:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Real Madrid: ‘I’m the oldest’ – Thibaut Courtois makes fresh claims about Mbappe, Vinicius, others",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/13/real-madrid-im-the-oldest-thibaut-courtois-makes-fresh-claims-about",
        "published": "2026-09-13T05:42:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}