Mbappé and Bellingham Absences Loom Large as Real Madrid Host City in Crunch Champions League Clash

Madrid—Real Madrid will take the field against Manchester City on Wednesday without two of the club’s most influential figures, Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, both of whom remain sidelined with significant injuries ahead of the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie.

Mbappé, 27, has not featured since aggravating a knee problem that initially flared during December’s group-stage meeting with City. Despite spending part of his rehabilitation under the care of French specialists, the forward has yet to resume full training and will not even be among the substitutes at the Bernabéu. Club officials have stressed they will not accelerate his return, leaving his availability for the March 17 return leg at the Etihad in serious doubt.

Bellingham’s situation is equally concerning. The midfielder tore his hamstring inside the opening 10 minutes of Real Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano on 2 February. Initial forecasts suggested a four-week lay-off, but a setback has pushed his recovery deep into March. Coaching staff now view the Madrid derby—five days after the trip to Manchester—as a more plausible comeback date, though sources inside Valdebebas concede the Englishman is “hoping” to play some part against City.

Their absences deepen an already turbulent period for Los Blancos. Álvaro Arbeloa’s squad is flirting with a trophyless 2025-26 campaign and faces a growing injury list that has destabilised the dressing room. With no Mbappé or Bellingham to call upon, Arbeloa is expected to deploy a 4-4-2 anchored by Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, while Vinícius Júnior and Brahim Díaz shoulder the goal-scoring burden.

City, meanwhile, arrive in the Spanish capital eager to capitalise on Madrid’s misfortune. The sides have met in the knockout phase for five consecutive seasons, and Pep Guardiola’s men sense an opportunity to seize control of the tie before the return fixture in Manchester.

For Real Madrid, the equation is stark: survive without their stars in the first leg, then pray both Mbappé and Bellingham can rejoin the squad before the decisive second leg three weeks away.

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