Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham return to the Real Madrid squad for the Champions League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium
Real Madrid have received a significant injury boost ahead of their Champions League round of 16 second leg against Manchester City, with both Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham travelling with the squad to England.
Alvaro Arbeloa‘s side head to the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday with a commanding 3-0 advantage following an impressive first-leg victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. Federico Valverde was the hero in that match, scoring a hat-trick to give Los Blancos a strong cushion ahead of the return fixture.
Madrid were without several key players in the first leg, but the situation has improved considerably ahead of the decisive encounter.
The most notable return is Mbappé, who missed the opening game due to a persistent knee issue. The French superstar has now recovered sufficiently to travel with the squad and could feature in some capacity against City.
While it remains unlikely that Mbappé will be able to complete the full 90 minutes, his presence still represents a major boost for the Spanish giants. Even limited minutes from a player of his calibre could prove decisive in such a high-stakes match.
Another significant addition is Bellingham. The England international suffered an injury in February that was initially expected to keep him sidelined for around two months. However, his recovery has progressed faster than anticipated, allowing him to join the squad for the trip to Manchester.
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Madrid have also welcomed back left-back Álvaro Carreras after he missed recent league matches. His return provides additional depth in the position, although Fran Garcia has proven a capable understudy. In central defence, David Alaba has also returned to the squad, further strengthening Madrid’s defensive options ahead of the crucial encounter.
🚨 BREAKING: Kylian Mbappe trained with the team today and will travel to Manchester tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/qIsCt3t4BV
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) March 15, 2026
Real Madrid squad vs Manchester City
Goalkeepers: Courtois, Lunin, Fran Gonzalez
Defenders: Carvajal, Alaba, Alexander-Arnold, Rudiger, Carreras, Fran Garcia, Aguado, Huijsen, Rivas
Midfielders: Valverde, Camavinga, Arda Guler, Tchouameni, Bellingham. Manuel Angel, Cestero, Palacios, Thiago
Forwards: Brahim, Vinicius, Mastantuono, Gonzalo Garcia, Mbappé
With key players returning and a three-goal advantage to protect, Real Madrid travel to Manchester in a strong position as they look to secure their place in the Champions League quarter-finals.
