In a major boost for Real Madrid ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 second-leg showdown with Manchester City, star forwards Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham have been declared fit to play. Coach Alvaro Arbeloa confirmed their inclusion in the 26-man squad traveling to Manchester’s Etihad Stadium for Tuesday’s crucial match.
Madrid enters this encounter holding a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu, where Federico Valverde’s first-half hat-trick set the tone. Mbappe and Bellingham missed that game due to injuries, as did left-back Alvaro Carreras and center-back David Alaba, both sidelined by hamstring issues. All four are now back in the fold, providing Arbeloa with near-full strength.
Bellingham has been out since early February, missing nine matches after a hamstring injury in a 2-1 home win over Rayo Vallecano. Mbappe, meanwhile, has battled a nagging left knee problem since before Christmas, with the team managing his minutes carefully in select fixtures.
The French superstar has been a revelation since joining Madrid, netting 38 goals in 33 appearances for the club and eight more for France. Only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane, with 60 goals across club and country in Europe’s top leagues this season, outscores him. Mbappe’s haul includes 23 in La Liga and 13 in the Champions League, making his return pivotal.
Manchester City, the 2023 champions, face an uphill battle to overturn the deficit. Should Madrid advance, they’ll face the winner of Atalanta vs. Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals, with legs scheduled for April 7/8 and 14/15. Semifinals follow on April 28/29 and May 5/6, culminating in the final on May 30 at Budapest’s Puskas Arena.
With their talismen back, Madrid’s quest for a 16th Champions League title gains serious momentum. City will need a miracle performance to progress.