Arda Güler has been one of Real Madrid’s most impressive performers in the first couple of months of the 2026/27 season, yet that hasn’t been enough for him to keep his place in José Mourinho’s starting lineup for Wednesday’s Champions League clash away to Roma.
The Turk has started six of Los Blancos’ eight LaLiga games to date, including each of the last three. However, Güler will have to wait a little longer than he would have wanted to make his first Champions League appearance of the campaign, as he will start on the bench in the Italian capital.
The 21-year-old didn’t feature in Madrid’s opening victory in the competition against Inter due to suspension.
Güler gets some rest in Rome
Given how Güler has been performing, Mourinho’s decision to replace him with Diomande appears to be down to giving him some rest, as well as continuing to integrate the Ivorian winger into the team.
Diomande has made nine appearances since moving to Madrid in the summer, but will only be making his fourth start in Rome.
With the LaLiga giants playing eight games between Oct. 10 and Nov. 7, Mourinho will be looking to make full use of his squad, which means Diomande and Güler should both see plenty of game time.
Güler, who was named the best young player in the 2025/26 Champions League, has featured in every game he has been available for since the start of the season, so we should probably expect to see him at some stage on Wednesday. Even more so if things don’t go according to plan.
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