Real Madrid is playing for more than just three points in their upcoming clash against Mallorca. If they don’t manage their injury-ridden squad with extreme care, they could field an ineligible lineup, resulting in a 0-3 forfeit loss, as stated in Article 246 of the RFEF General Regulations.

Only Ten First-Team Players Available

Absences affect every area of the pitch. Carvajal, Alaba, Rüdiger, Militao, Mendy, Lucas Vázquez, Camavinga, Tchouaméni (suspended), Vinícius, Rodrygo, Lunin, and Brahim Díaz—the latter ruled out with an adductor injury—are all unavailable. That leaves Ancelotti with just ten first-team players: Courtois, Fran García, Vallejo, Bellingham, Valverde, Modric, Arda Güler, Ceballos, Mbappé, and Endrick.

The biggest risk is at the back. Only Vallejo and Fran García are natural defenders from the senior squad. Ancelotti may be forced to improvise, possibly using Valverde as a full-back, weakening the midfield. If Courtois were to face any issues, a goalkeeper from the youth team would need to step in, which would require additional adjustments to avoid breaking the rules.

The Ghost of the Cheryshev Case & Ancelotti Playing Chess

The memory of the Cheryshev ineligible lineup in 2015 still haunts the club. If the team drops below seven first-team players on the pitch at any moment, the referee would suspend the match, and the win would be awarded to Mallorca. In that scenario, Barcelona would be crowned LaLiga champions, regardless of their own result this round.

This situation demands that Ancelotti approach the match like a chess master. Every substitution, every minute managed, every decision must be calculated with surgical precision. There’s no room for error—a single misstep could be fatal. And so, the fate of LaLiga could be decided not by a goal or a key play, but by a regulatory technicality. Real Madrid must be flawless off the pitch if they want to avoid losing it all in the boardroom.