The fixture comes at a demanding stage of the campaign for Madrid, who are navigating a congested schedule that sees them play three matches within the space of nine days.
After facing Rayo Vallecano, Los Blancos travel to Elche on Tuesday before turning their attention to a highly anticipated derby against Atlético de Madrid on Sunday, September 20.
The intense run of fixtures has raised questions over whether Mourinho could rotate his starting XI, particularly among some of the club’s most influential players.
Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham were specifically mentioned during Mourinho’s pre-match press conference, with the manager asked whether he would consider leaving any of the trio on the bench against Elche.
Mourinho indicated that, provided the players are physically ready, he would have no hesitation in selecting them again.
“Could one of Vini-Mbappé-Bellingham be benched? If I can start them again tomorrow, I’ll start all of them again, yes,” Mourinho said.
The Portuguese coach stressed that player wellbeing would remain a key factor in his decision-making process, explaining that he places considerable trust in his players when assessing how they are coping with the demands of the schedule.
“I have a lot of trust in how every player feels about his body and what he tells me,” he added.
Mourinho also revealed that his selection decisions are informed by performance and fitness data, alongside discussions with individual players and the club’s medical department.
“I read data, and I speak to the player and the medical staff to decide,” he said.
The manager made it clear, however, that there would be no unnecessary rotation simply for the sake of resting key players.
“And of course, if they can start, they’ll start.”
With Elche standing between Real Madrid and Sunday’s derby, Mourinho’s approach suggests that fitness rather than fixture congestion alone will determine whether his star players remain in the starting line-up.
The decision could prove significant as Madrid seek to maintain their momentum while managing the physical demands of a tightly packed run of matches.